Screaming and fainting goats have become an internet sensation, captivating audiences with their dramatic reactions. You’ve likely encountered viral videos showcasing goats suddenly collapsing or seemingly screaming at the top of their lungs. But what’s the real story behind these captivating memes? Are these goats genuinely fainting from fear, and are their screams a sign of distress? Let’s delve into the fascinating world of goats to uncover the truth.
The Mystery of “Fainting” Goats
Interestingly, not all goats are prone to fainting. The breed known for this peculiar behavior is appropriately named the Tennessee fainting goat, also recognized as myotonic goats, stiff-legged goats, nervous goats, or wooden-leg goats. Despite their dramatic collapses, these goats are not actually losing consciousness due to fright.
Tennessee fainting goats suffer from a hereditary condition called myotonia congenita. This genetic disorder affects their skeletal muscles, which are responsible for movement. In goats with myotonia congenita, when muscles are voluntarily contracted, such as when attempting to flee from a perceived threat, the subsequent relaxation of these muscles is significantly delayed. This results in muscle rigidity, rendering the goat temporarily immobile.
The “fainting” reaction is typically triggered when a myotonic goat is startled by sudden stimuli like loud noises or abrupt movements. As the animal instinctively tries to escape, the sudden stiffening of their muscles can cause them to lose balance and fall to their sides, creating the illusion that they have fainted from fear. The severity of this condition varies among individual goats, with some experiencing more pronounced reactions than others.
Myotonic goats exhibit temporary muscle stiffness when startled due to myotonia congenita, a genetic condition affecting muscle relaxation.
During these episodes of rigidity, the goats become practically helpless. As geneticist Jay L Lush noted in 1930, describing their state, ‘While in this condition they can be pushed or turned over as if they were carved out of a single piece of wood.’ Fortunately, the muscle stiffness is short-lived, typically lasting only between 5 to 20 seconds. Unless a fall occurs from a height, these episodes are generally harmless. However, it’s important to note that frequent frights can induce stress in these sensitive animals.
Tennessee fainting goats are believed to have originated around 1800 in Tennessee, USA. The exact origins of their condition remain unclear. Experts speculate that the genetic mutation responsible for myotonia congenita either arose spontaneously within the goat population or was introduced through crossbreeding with another breed carrying the gene.
The gene responsible for myotonia congenita is recessive. This means that a goat must inherit two copies of the gene, one from each parent, to exhibit the condition. Consequently, when Tennessee fainting goats are crossbred with other goat breeds, their offspring usually do not inherit the fainting trait. Interestingly, myotonia congenita also exists in humans, presenting in two primary forms: Becker-type myotonia and Thomsen disease, which differ in severity and inheritance patterns. Unlike goats, muscle stiffness in humans with myotonia congenita is not triggered by fear.
Decoding the “Screaming” Goat Phenomenon
Goats have gained notoriety not only for their “fainting” spells but also for their seemingly human-like screams, which have both amused and startled people worldwide. However, these vocalizations, while sometimes sounding remarkably human, are simply bleats, a natural form of goat communication. Goats possess a diverse range of bleats, and each goat has its own unique vocal signature, varying in volume, pitch, and depth.
Goats bleat for a variety of reasons, primarily to communicate with each other. They might bleat when they are hungry, in pain, or to alert their herd to potential danger. Mother goats also use bleating to call to their young kids when they become separated.
Similar to human vocal behaviors, goat vocalizations can evolve over time, particularly influenced by their social environment. A study conducted in the UK on pygmy goat kids revealed that goats raised together developed more similar calls compared to those raised separately. This suggests that a goat’s individual bleat is shaped by its social surroundings and interactions.
A goat bleating, showcasing its vocal communication
Goats use a variety of bleats to communicate, and some may sound surprisingly human-like to our ears.
In conclusion, while the internet portrays goats as either dramatically fainting or hilariously screaming, the reality is more nuanced and scientifically fascinating. “Fainting goats” are not actually fainting from fear but experiencing temporary muscle rigidity due to myotonia congenita, a genetic condition. “Screaming goats” are simply bleating, using their natural vocalizations to communicate within their social groups. Understanding these distinctions allows us to appreciate the unique characteristics of goats beyond the viral memes, revealing the interesting biology and behavior of these captivating animals.
