this post was submitted on 10 Mar 2026
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I don't have a single favorite, but every now and then a critter will become the subject of my latest ADHD hyperfixation. I remember thinking skunks were cool in 5th grade. They're like badgers with chemical weapons. For the months leading up to getting my first guide dog I devoured stuff about dogs in general. I had always had pet dogs so it wasn't a new subject, just a more intense interest.

For a while it was octopi, then parrots. For some time in 2015 or early 2016 it was possums, the US's only marsupial.

Right now it's monkeys. I used to think monkeys were gross and disturbing in an uncanny valley sort of way, so humanlike but not human at the same time. But I've taken a shine to orangutans. They're quiet and introverted like me. Also new world monkeys like capuchins and woollies. Having a prehensile tail would be awesome.

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[–] sad_detective_man@sopuli.xyz 1 points 42 minutes ago

Him. I never could have imagined these animals have much personality at all but he did.

[–] IlmariGanander@lemmy.wtf 1 points 1 hour ago

I've been fascinated by pterosaurs lately. The book Pterosaurs by Mark P Witton is great.

Pterosaurs interest me because of their wing morphology. Instead of having the wing membrane between all the "fingers" like a bat, it's attached to their equivalent of a pinky finger in such a way it can fold up enough that they could use all four limbs to navigate on land. They just have such an interesting body shape that no animal today really has.

They also got much bigger than birds. Like, to the point that I want to write a fantasy book where the premise is that dragons are like ...the only pterosaur that survived extinction. Because it would be cool to have a dragon that's directly not related to modern reptiles, birds, or mammals...but still is speculatively based on a flying animal that did once exist.

[–] dsilverz@calckey.world 3 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

@early_riser@piefed.social @asklemmy@lemmy.world

Both due to ADHD hyper-fixation and for spiritual/religious reasons, Athene noctua.

Athene noctua owl mid flight.

[–] anon6789@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago

Owl religion? Go on.... 🤔

[–] dsilverz@calckey.world 2 points 3 hours ago

@asklemmy@lemmy.world @early_riser@piefed.social

The italic font isn't rendering on your Piefed side. The missing part between the comma and the full stop is "Athene noctua".

[–] tanisnikana@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago
[–] SouthFresh@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago

I'm a fan of the African Rain Frog

[–] Fondots@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago

It's a bit complicated

With no further qualification, dogs. I've had dogs for most of my life and home just doesn't feel homey without a dog to me.

But my wife and I have a bit of a thing for frogs, they're sort of our unofficial mascot.

I also thought narwhals were cool long before reddit had them baconing at midnight. I think they were kind of when I realized that kids can be smarter than/know things that grownups don't. I don't remember what exactly the context was, but I remember once bringing them up, my mom didn't believe they were real, so I marched my way upstairs to grab the book I read about them in to show her.

I also always liked Coatimundis (Coatis) because they were probably the weirdest animal the fairly small zoo I grew up near had.

And if I had to pick sort of a "spirit animal" for myself, it's probably a raccoon.

[–] jeffw@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago

I inherited a fish over a year ago and now I’m obsessed with aquatic animals. Aquatic snails are super cool and I’ve started breeding them to resell. Y’know, until next year when I find something cooler. Love that ADHD life

[–] bazzett@lemmy.world 5 points 4 hours ago

I'm a biologist, so all of them. Yes, even cockroaches (they're so cute when eating cookies ❤️), parasites like horsehair worms and Demodex folliculorum, spiders (all of them!), mosquitoes and centipedes.

[–] blimthepixie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

I grew up with cats, always loved cats. If I saw a cat on the street I'd always say hello (or at least try to).

Last year my girlfriend brought home a rabbit.

Rabbits are fucking cool.

Don't see as many on the street though

[–] EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com 3 points 2 hours ago

Don’t see as many on the street though

Rabbits are all over in many places. Not the type people keep as pets though.

[–] DredPyr8Roberts@lemmy.world 3 points 4 hours ago
[–] kbal@fedia.io 4 points 5 hours ago

Eric Burdon

[–] chunes@lemmy.world 5 points 5 hours ago
[–] a_gee_dizzle@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 hours ago

Right now it's monkeys. I used to think monkeys were gross and disturbing in an uncanny valley sort of way, so humanlike but not human at the same time.

I agree with you that it’s monkeys. Thats why this image is my profile pic.

It’s a selfie taken of a monkey. IIRC it became a precedent setting case in copyright law, because the owner of the camera tried to claim ownership over the photo. The issue was that you need to actually take the picture to own the it. But the guy didn’t take the photo; the money took the photo. And monkeys cannot own property, under the law. So the image became public domain. Here’s the Wikipedia page on the case

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 3 points 5 hours ago

Damn I actually didn't think about this a lot...

When I was a kid, my favorite color was green and my favorite animal... I remember it being turtles

Cuz they can just hide from all dangers... they always have a "home"... where they are safe...

Being an immigrant and growing up in an emotionally unstable household... I never felt like I had a "home"

Like... neither in context of country... or in the context of my "home" vs school vs someplace to go to... like the library or a friend's house...

Like... when it's time for school... I'm like ah fuck, this again (cuz of bullies and authoritarian teachers and classwork shit...)

Then when it's time to go home... I'm like: oh no, yesterday we have a whole argument at home and stuff were thrown around and a few bowls and plates were broken, I kinda feel scared

And I don't have any close frienda where I could just go to their place and chill out...

And the outside world felt scary to me to I didn't have like a runaway "base" in the woods or something...

So I kinda liked turtles lol...

Just retreat to inside the shell when there is conflict...

🫠

For some time I also liked monkeys because Curious George... (also mandela effect time: but pretty sure it had a tail didn't it?)

At one point, it was sheeps/goats... because 喜洋洋与灰太郎 (it's a Chinese Cartoon I remember watching as a kid)

Some other animals I liked at some point:

I liked Owls because it was the first nocturnal animal I learned of...

Pandas because I'm from China...

Frogs/Toads... idk why... maybe cuz its amphibious

And now I have a cat... probably the most useful animal... gets rid of mice

[–] Melobol@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

Elephants! After them~~ everything else~~ is my favorite :)
Edit, never mind: Not everything else, mostly mammals and fishes - and couple danger noodles and creepy-crawlers - but definitely not icky bloodsuckers. Tho leeches are at least prettier while swimming, than those flying disease vectors.

[–] gigastasio@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 hours ago

My 5 year old.