Fox, raven or mayfly: which animal people would choose to be

Fox, raven or mayfly: which animal everyone would choose and why

The most common answer isn't the most epic one: it's the most practical. Asked which animal they would like to be, many responses converge on the same criteria — few predators, easy food and an existence without surprises — and the fox takes the crown. The logic behind it is simple: a elusive, agile animal from a fairly mild ecosystem, eating everything from insects to rodents and berries. In short, what anyone would ask for in a hypothetical reincarnation.

The exercise, which started as an after-dinner pastime, ended up revealing three schools of thought: those seeking effortless comfort, those prioritizing the ability to fly away, and those who simply go for programmed extinction.

Comfort without predators: pedigree cats and Kodiak bears

The top rung of the comfort ladder belongs to the pedigree cat, summed up as an existence of sofas and peine cans. One step below, though with more muscle, comes the Kodiak bear: no natural predators, with hibernations described as unbelievably peaceful. The nap as a life project. And at the most shameless extreme, a male savanna lion who delegates the hunting to the lionesses and reserves the alpha role for when the food arrives.

Against that hedonistic current, another part of the crowd bets on presence and power: an Australian saltwater crocodile, a Greenland shark — with its 500-year lifespan — or an orca, defended by one participant as superior to the shark in weight, size and intelligence. Though the immediate counterargument arises there: what good is intelligence underwater among fish playing it safe.

Flying to escape: gulls, eagles and sparrows

The second big group is made up of those who want wings. A gull or an eagle to be able to fly, a raven, a wet owl, a sparrow. The choice isn't just aesthetic: flying is the fastest way out of any trouble. The swallow also comes up, the one that migrates to warm places when the cold arrives, a classic of autumn daydreaming.

The comic relief is provided by the English flea and the mole, two options nobody would defend out loud. And then there's the alien, which according to the description looks like it might be sharper than coral.

The mayfly: 24 hours, one mating session and into the pine box

The most celebrated discovery of the exchange is the male mayfly. Its adult life doesn't exceed 24 hours, it never eats and it's only interested in mating. Swarms of males fill the air, females fly among them, mating happens in mid-flight and as soon as it's over the male drops into the water, dead. The female lays the eggs and meets the same fate. A life plan without distractions.

The idea, half in jest half seriously, captures the heart of the matter: most people don't want to be the strongest animal, but the one that suffers least. And there, the fox keeps winning.

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With these ingredients, the prediction is easy: next time someone raises the question, the fox will sweep the board again. Though it's worth not ruling out the pedigree cat, which starts with an advantage.