Have you ever wondered what animals can’t feel pain? Yes, humans can feel pain and most of us know all animals feel the same way. But scientists made a clear statement that not all animals feel pain.
Scientists believe that invertebrates have no capacity for feeling pain because invertebrates have no backbone. However, this conclusion has been argued ever since until today.
Today, we are going to talk about the different animals that can’t feel pain according to scientists.
If you want to know what animals that can tolerate any pain that they feel, or none at all, make sure to keep reading!
We will take a look at some animals across the globe that can’t feel pain and we will add other related facts! Let’s jump right into it!
These Are The Animals That Can’t Feel Pain
Have you ever wondered about different animals that don’t feel pain? You may think that there are no animals that can’t feel pain because all of them react when they are being attacked or chased by their predators. But did you know that all of this is only instincts, that all animals are programmed to defend themselves?
Have you noticed some computer games with A.I? These A.I also make some reactions when something happens, bad or good. Animals are like A.I they are programmed to react to whatever happens. If it’s time to eat, they eat. If it’s time to reproduce, they mate, etc. Do you get my point?
Below are the different animals that can’t feel pain but are programmed to react to whatever happens.
Insects
All over the world, we have 900 thousand different species of insects that help our ecosystem. 80 percent of the world’s species are covered with insects. They vary in colors, shape, structure, and appearance.
Even though most insects can bring harm to people, they still have a role in our ecosystem. What do insects do? They are the ones who dispose of our wastes, dead animals, and plants. Without them, our world will be messy.
Insects are invertebrates, which means that they don’t have a backbone. They have small nervous systems and they have low output neurons. Lack of output neurons and backbone in insects limits the ability of an insect to feel pain and other emotions.
In short, insects don’t feel pain if we swat or step on them. Yes, insects might defend themselves or avoid things that might kill them like the web of spiders. But, they still don’t feel pain because it is an instinct of all animals to react when something bad is going on.
Shrimps
In the world, there are 2,000 different species of shrimps. They have no backbone because they are invertebrates, and they have a tough exoskeleton.
Shrimps have brains, but their brains are not that big to feel certain emotions and pain. As humans, the shrimp’s main processing organ in their central nervous system is their brain. It is found back or at the side of the shrimp’s head.
Even though shrimps have brains, they are not capable of feeling pain. Shrimps have reflexes that do not cause internal suffering, which means they do not feel pain. They run from their predators as part of their instincts.
Jellyfish
All jellyfish are invertebrates, and they don’t have a backbone. They aren’t fish though. Jellyfish have tiny stinging cells in their tentacles to stun or paralyze their prey, and to defend themselves from predators.
All Jellyfish have no centralized nerve center or a brain, which means that these animals can’t feel pain. They have a primitive nervous system like other primitive animals. In short, jellyfish can’t feel pain and all reactions they make are just instincts.
Sea Sponges
There are approximately 8000 plus sea sponges species living around the world, and all of them have no backbone, and they belong to the invertebrate family.
Many organisms do not have real brains like the brains of humans and other mammals but have a nerve net of neurons scattered around their bodies. However, sea sponges do not have that both.
Sea sponges have no brains, which means that they don’t feel various emotions, and they don’t have memories. So it means that sea sponges are not capable of feeling pain because they don’t have backbone and brains.
Clams
Clams are invertebrate animals because they don’t have a backbone. But do clams have brains? They have brains that control them to function and execute their instincts but not like the brains of mammals. Clams can live longer because their lifespan varies from 1-500 years old.
Clams have a heart, kidneys, a stomach, a mouth, and a nervous system that allows them to function correctly. However, their brains are not enough to feel pain.
Clams don’t feel pain because they have little brains, and they do not have any backbone. They fight their predators because it’s their instinct to defend themselves and to react to whatever happens.
Corals
Like the Jellyfish, corals also belong to the Cnidarians family, and they also can sting their enemies. You may think that corals are plants or static creatures, but the truth is, they are real living animals. They don’t produce their food like plants because they hunt for food. That is why they are considered animals.
Corals are invertebrates, animals without a backbone. They don’t have brains, but they can grow tall to six feet, and they can live up to 1000 years! They can be found almost anywhere deep under the ocean.
Corals have no brains, and their primitive nervous system can’t feel pain. They defend themselves, and they attract their prey not because they avoid getting hurt, but because it’s their instincts.
Oysters
Oysters and clams are quite similar. The difference between the two is that oysters have a precious pearl inside them. However, only a few oysters have precious pearls inside them, and you have to spot them carefully.
Oysters are invertebrate animals, which means that they don’t have any backbone. They have shells, and they belong to the bivalves family. Oysters protect themselves from their prey through their shells.
Do oysters feel pain? Oysters have a nervous system so that they can respond. They don’t have brains, and they don’t have a central nervous system. So it means that oysters are not capable of feeling pain like mammals, lobsters, and humans do.
Sea Urchins
Sea Urchins are animals that have a pointy and spiky thing on them, and they use this to defend themselves. So if you are going to a beach, make sure to look out for these animals because they may hurt you.
However, not all Sea Urchins are poisonous except for one Sea Urchin species that you can find in South Florida.
Sea Urchins have no backbone, and they belong to invertebrate animals. Sea Urchins have no brains. However, they have nervous systems that act as their brains. The sea urchin’s nerves are very very small and they are considered animals made of rock.
Can Sea Urchins feel pain? The short answer is no. Sea Urchins don’t feel pain because they don’t have brains. They react to different things like defending themselves from prey not because they avoid getting hurt, but it’s their instincts and that’s how they are made by God.
Sea Squirts
Sea Squirts cannot eat, so they are more likely to find a place to stay, and they stay there for the rest of their lives.
As soon as Sea Squirts find a good spot to settle in, they will start to eat their brain. This is one of the most amazing transformations in the animal kingdom!
Sea Squirts are hermaphrodites, which means that they have reproductive organs of females and males. They don’t have to partner with other sea squirts to reproduce.
Sea Squirts are not capable of feeling pain because they have small brains, and they don’t have any backbone.
Sea Anemones
Sea Anemones are one of the animals that look like a plant. However, they are truly alive, and they are not like plants because they have to hunt for food. They have long tentacles, which they use to eat and hunt prey.
Sea Anemones can change its shape. They don’t have brains, but they react to their surroundings by sensors, it’s their instincts to react to whatever happens.
Do Sea Anemones feel pain? They don’t have a backbone, and they don’t have a brain, which means that they are not capable of feeling pain.
Sea Cucumbers
Sea Cucumbers look like a worm, and they are funny to watch. They love to eat planktons that float around the sea. Sea cucumbers can be found around the world.
Sea Cucumbers have a total of 1000 different classified species, and they all don’t have backbones. Aside from having no backbone, Sea Cucumbers also have no brains, and they belong to the echinoderm family.
Do Sea Cucumbers feel pain? The answer is no. Sea Cucumbers have no brains and no backbones, which means that they are not capable of feeling pain and other emotions.
Sea Lilies
Sea Lilies are permanently attached to the bottom of the ocean. Like the Sea Anemones, Sea Lilies also look like a plant, but they have feathery arms. The Sea Lilies and Sea Urchins are closely related.
Sea Lilies grow until 30 inches, and scientists proved that their ancestors can grow up to 80 feet.
Sea Lilies have no brains, and they have a small mouth at the center. Some Sea Lilies leave their spot especially if food is scarce. They find another place to stay in, and they will most likely stay in a place where food is abundant.
Do Sea Lilies feel pain? No, Sea Lilies can’t feel pain. Sea Lilies are invertebrates, which means that they don’t have a backbone. They also don’t have brains, which is why they belong to animals that can’t feel pain.
Man O’ Wars
This animal is one of the strangest animals alive, and they can be seen in Portuguese. They are like Jellyfish, but they are more deadly than Jellyfishes. Man O’ Wars can kill larger animals like sharks, and they can also kill humans.
Do Man O’ Wars feel pain? No, Man O’ Wars can’t feel pain. Man O’ Wars have no backbone, and they also don’t have brains, which gives us the reason why these animals can’t feel pain.
Do Animals Feel Pain When Eaten Alive?
Now that we have done talking about the animals that don’t feel pain let us talk about another topic that will intrigue you.
In every ecosystem, we have something we call a food chain, that shows who is the weakest animal. Animals below the food chain are the food of animals that are on the top of the food chain. This is how nature works, and we have nothing to do with it even if the animals getting eaten looks so pitiful.
But, do animals feel pain when they get eaten alive? Of course, animals like clams that don’t feel pain never feel pain when they are being eaten alive. But what about the animals that can feel pain? Do they feel pain when eaten alive?
Do animals feel pain when eaten alive? Yes, of course! Animals that can feel pain can feel tremendous pain when they are getting eaten. That is why some animals scream when they get hurt. They have large brains, and they have strong nervous systems that make them feel pain.
Do Fish Feel Pain?
All animals that can’t feel pain are all from the sea. But what about other animals in the sea? Do they feel pain?
Do fish feel pain? The answer to this is yes. Fishes feel pain, but it’s different from the pain humans feel, but it is still a kind of pain. Fishes have neurons known as nociceptors, which make them feel pain and detect potential harm.
It means that fishes can feel pain when they are getting hooked, getting eaten alive, and if they bump on something. They are not numb, and they are one of the animals that can feel pain.
Do Crustaceans Feel Pain?
As you can see above, I included shrimps as one of the animals that can’t feel pain even though they belong to the crustacean family. Why? Because shrimps are proven that they can’t feel pain.
However, other crustaceans like lobsters and crabs have no definite answer if they can feel pain yet, and many conclusions have been concluded from different observations.
The answer to this question has no definite answer because some people said that crabs and lobsters can feel pain because they react when they are being boiled alive. Also, some scientists believe that crabs and lobsters can anticipate and avoid pain.
However, other scientists said that crabs and lobsters can’t feel pain because they are invertebrates and have no backbone. They consider the crabs and lobsters as large insects.
There is no definite answer to this, and the only living creature that can answer this is the crabs and lobsters. Hopefully, there will be one definite answer where all agree.
Final Words
Animals have feelings as well, and most of them can experience pain. However, there are just some animals who can endure pain because they don’t feel any at all!
We hope that you have learned a lot today, and we hope that this article will add up to your knowledge about animals. If you want to read other amazing facts about animals, just click fun facts on the menu at the top.
