Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Debate Which Animal Would Reign Supreme If Humans Didn't Exist

Humans have had an undeniably significant impact on our environment and the other species that inhabit the planet with us.

What might happen if humans weren't here to exert that influence, though?

What if we never had?


Reddit user Mompkey asked:

"Which species do you think would be dominant if humans didn't exist?"

Caninae

"Wolves. They can, and have, successfully adapted to most of the various biomes on the planet."

"There's a reason we domesticated them and took them everywhere with us."

-CedarWolf

Giphy

Formicidae

"Ants are and would still be the dominant species."

-mpssss22

Giphy

Procyonidae

"Raccoons"

-ir88d

"2 rules in life:

  1. Everything is garbage
  2. Garbage is delicious"
Giphy

Blattodea

"Cockroaches"

-Chromebasketball

"I would agree, but now I'm wondering if our presence is the reason cockroaches have thrived as well as they have."

-Steverin0724

Giphy

Selachimorpha

"Sharks, they are the dominant species on 3/4 of the Earth's surface already, they have survived mass extinctions and would thrive even more without humans mucking up their habitat."

-Who_Wouldnt_

Giphy

Corvidae

"Corvids particularly Crows."

-Outrageous-Monk-6281

Giphy

Nobody

"Humans are the only species that seek to dominate others. Other animals just want to live in the balance of nature. They're just trying to survive, they don't have time to take over the world."

-Nisa4444

"Pinky and The Brain theme song played in my head."

-itsnick

Giphy

Primates

"Other primates."

-Dimple_From_YA

"We've killed off so many throughout history but of the ones that remains intelligence and versatility would be the key factors. Their food supply and habitat would greatly increase in our absence so with this being said.........primates."

"We are simply the superior primate therefore we are the dominant species. That opposable thumb is a mf when you have a large brain."

-LifeOutside7130

"Gorillas"

-WickedGeisha

Giphy

Brachyura et al.

"Crabs."

-coyoteb0nes

Giphy

Hominidae

"Wouldn't it be just another off shoot of humans like the Neanderthal or heidelbergensis?"

-SnooHesitations8174

Giphy

While we'll probably never know definitively which species would truly thrive without us around, it's still fun to speculate.

Do you have thoughts?

Comment below!

Want to "know" more?

Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Sabre; Nancy Mace
@bottleneckloser/Instagram, Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Congressional Integrity Project

Trans Influencer Speaks Out After She's Randomly Targeted By Nancy Mace Online

A trans influencer fired back at MAGA Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina for mocking her about her trans identity on social media and subsequently making her vulnerable to attacks.

Sabre, whose Instagram handle is @bottleneckloser, posted a video stating that the lawmaker "bullied" her recently for being "hot on Twitter.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Elon Musk
Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

YouTube Becomes Unlikely Hero After Play Button Is Perfectly Placed Over Musk's Face

Call it kismet or divine intervention, but sometimes the fates align to inadvertently create something wonderful.

Or hilarious.

Keep ReadingShow less
Elon Musk and Jim Jordan
Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

GOP Account Hit With Blunt Reminder After Shaming Dems For Celebrating Tesla's Downfall

Minnesota Democratic Governor and former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz joined many Americans in a bit of schadenfreude regarding White House advisor Elon Musk’s recent reversal of fortune.

Musk, the self-described leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has seen protests against his actions on behalf of Republican President Donald Trump. Part of those protests include Tesla owners getting rid of their vehicles, buyers boycotting the brand, and stockholders dumping their shares.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rachel Zegler
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/GettyImages

Rachel Zegler Claims 'White Executives' Questioned Her Latina Heritage During 'West Side Story' Casting

Actor Rachel Zegler claimed that skeptical producers questioned her Latina heritage during the casting process for the 2021 West Side Story remake directed by Steven Spielberg.

In the remake of the classic 1961 film adaptation, Zegler starred opposite Ansel Elgort as the star-crossed lovers, Maria and Tony.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Trump Hilariously Melts Down Over Awful Portrait Of Him Hanging In CO State Capitol—And People Can't Stop Trolling Him

People can't help but troll President Donald Trump after he complained about a truly awful portrait of him hanging in the Colorado State Capitol building.

On Sunday night, Trump lashed out against Colorado Governor Jared Polis for hanging what he called a "purposefully distorted" portrait of him in the Colorado State Capitol building.

Keep ReadingShow less