Crayfish getting drunk behave just like a bunch of frat-boys.
HUMANS are not the only species to enjoy a snifter. Myriad experiments on other animals, from rats and monkeys to bees and fruit flies, show that they also get drunk, will seek out alcohol given the opportunity and may even develop a dependence on the stuff. But alcohol promotes conviviality as well as drunkenness, and that relationship is less well explored. In particular, there are few studies of whether the link is reciprocal—whether conviviality, or at least a sociable environment, affects susceptibility to alcohol.
The article, from the Economist (worth looking at just for the photo), goes on to explain how the crustaceans behaved just like people out on the town:
First, they started walking around on tiptoes. Then, they began flicking their tails and doing somersaults (see picture). Finally, the most inebriated ended up lying on their backs, kicking their legs in the air—or, rather, in the water.
Then they show that crayfish who have spend their time among others of their kind get wasted 25% faster than those who are isolated beforehand. The social you are, the more of a party animal you become—and the cheaper it becomes to get wasted .
LOL…although this makes sense. Safety in numbers would come with being social, giving animals a group to get drunk with.
I think consciousness alterers are a good thing as long as they don’t debilitate one from attaining other goals as well.