Everyone seems to assume the same hierarchy in nature.

Humans, then the other mammals, then the birds, then the reptiles, then the fish, then the insects.

And for most people, it seems like there is something inherently repulsive about this hierarchy being violated.

Most people hate watching snakes or lizards or fish eating birds or mammals.

But nobody seems too bothered by images of mammals eating birds, or birds eating reptiles.

It seems natural.

Another idea about what is natural is that the higher up on the hierarchy you are, the bigger you're allowed to be.

Big mammals are charismatic.

People seem fascinated with bears and hippos, but most people can't stand the sight of a spider,

or even an ant bigger than their

fingernail. This isn't rational. Bears and hippos are far more dangerous than large ants.

But it's not about danger. It's about hierarchy. It's about maintaining our preferred version of the

natural order. Komodo dragons, big lizards, they're scary.

Lions are majestic.

Sharks are scary.

Killer whales, even despite their threatening name,

people seem to like them instead of just fearing them.

The arguable exception to this pro-mammal trend would be the fictional animal, King Kong.

He is a massive mammalian villain, yeah.

But he has enough redeeming qualities that by the time he is shot at the end, the audience feels bad for him.

Other animals can't even play the role of dark night. They're all dark.

Arthropods, spiders, scorpions, centipedes, crabs. To many, these animals are inherently the bad guy.

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