Why is it that most domesticated mammals and birds seem to have “personalities” and “emotions”, but fish and reptiles do not?
In: Biology
Facial disparity.
You are around mammals more than birds, reptiles, and fish. They also share more common musculature in and around the face. So they make expressions you are familiar with.
Reptiles and birds we commonly encounter have their eyes farther to the side, and differently defined mouths.
Ask longtime fish owners (people who have only 1-5 in a tank) and they will say their fish have personalities. Ask anyone who has had a bird more than a year and they will as well. I haven’t spoken much with any reptile owners about their pets, but would wager it is the same case there. Once familiar with the animal, you begin to attribute emotion to various actions.
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