[Viridovipera]

This is why i like to use bromeliads in my terrariums. Even though I have a misting system, they sometimes seem to like still water.

[jadrig]

All animals are stimulated to deficate when in contact with water... it is instinctual. I always use water bowls when going away for a couple days.

[miguel camacho!]

Wait, what? Do you have any sources for that little factoid? If it's "instinctual" to defecate when in contact with water, and people are showing their Uroplatus are choosing to soak their rears in water, why would it be a good idea to leave water bowls when you aren't around to ensure timely removal of contaminated water sources?

I can say that I don't have the urge to poop every time I touch water, nor have I ever noticed that in any other animals.

[Jackp308]

Figured I'd share another drinking picture here from tonight. I caught my Uroplatus sikorae male drinking. His cage is plenty wet as you can see in the picture but he rather go for the water dish.It was hard to get a picture as he was headed out within a minute of me noticing him.

[jadrig]

any sources for that little factoid?

Heres a pic of my WC female henkeli from about 10 years ago...
And the other pics are your sources...

[miguel camacho!]

I can appreciate humor, but when you make very matter-of-fact statements, I kinda hope for a serious answer when some source for your information is requested. Otherwise, I'm going to take every statement you make as a joke. When we're all trying to improve our knowledge as individuals and as a collective with a common goal, bad information and misinformation that is disguised as truth not only stops forward progress, it sets us a few steps back.

[jadrig]

Mike, this is all I am saying...
I never read anywhere that animals have a natural instinct to deficate/urinate when in contact with water, so I cannot cite my facts, BUT...
I know it's true.
It does not have to be published in an article or a book to be known as fact.
When you are in the pool/hot tub, you have an urge to urinate. We humans tend to forget that we haven't ALWAYS been so civilized. I would imagine that the 'not so civilized' tribes that live along the Amazon River usually always eliminate in the river...if not, their dwellings would quickly become contaminated. Also, it is not just a coincidence that birds always crap on cars...They think that cars with their shiney clearcoat paint jobs are puddles of water...Drogonflies also think that cars are little bodies of water as well...ever see a Dragonfly trying to lay eggs on a car.

[miguel camacho!]

It does not have to be published in an article or a book to be known as fact.

Your sort of statement does. Hopefully I'm not the only person here who thinks so.

I bet if you look into the cars that get pooped on frequently, you'd find that it's because you're parked under a tree all of the time, perhaps a tree near a bird feeder or some other sort of food source. Of course, once in a while my car gets pooped on by some bird when I seem to have not parked under any trees or anything else birds regularly use for a perch. Then I look at the fact that many places have lots of birds, bird poop often...and by chance, every now and then my car is going to get pooped on.

I don't know what the heck your dragonfly example has to do with this. Do a Google search (or Google Scholar search if you want to look into primary literature) for dragonfly oviposition and reflected light. The wiring in dragonflies is such that their cues for "water" are reflected light. Why? they've evolved to recognize reflected light as a good indicator of a water source. They evolved this mechanism well before we humans began making other big shiny things, so they occasionally misinterpret the signals.

And using humans for your example does not work for your broader statement that "all animals are stimulated to defecate in water." We should all know that humans represent a teeny tiny fraction of the species that exist on this earth today and are by no means a representative for every aspect of animal life in every species in existence.

[pakinjak]

There's also something to be said for us noticing a heck of a lot more when a bird poops on our car than when it's on the pavement, both because we like our car and don't want crap all over it and because turds are less noticeable on the ground.

[Riverside Reptiles]

So THAT'S why I go poopy in my pants every time it rains!

Note to self: purchase umbrella


Ok, seriously, let's keep this on topic. It's actually a good topic.