After all the discussion on MutantFrog about "odori-gui," that Japanese penchant for consuming seafood so fresh it's still kicking, Aceface sent me a link that proves we only touched on one side of the equation. What of the phenomenon that a Sapporo zookeeper has dubbed "onore-gui," or self-eating!? Shades of Ouroboros! Or perhaps a literal reptilian version of "The Ring"?
Nobody really knows for sure why this shimahebi, or four-lined rat snake, decided to swallow its tail, but the zookeeper has several theories. At fifteen, it's quite old for a snake of this species. And it's almost totally blind.
THat's the craziest thing I've ever seen.
Posted by: Dating Japanese Girls | May 16, 2009 at 02:19 PM
...or the most senile.
Posted by: AcroRay | May 18, 2009 at 12:25 PM
What if blind humans did that?! "I'll think I'll just eat that weird thing hangin' off my hand..."
Posted by: Batmanifestdestiny | June 10, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Wicked symbolism! I had no idea snakes did that "in real life". There's a concept from art and literature called http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouroboros (Ouroboros) that *visually* depicts a snake/dragon swallowing its own tail, but this is fascinating on a whole different level.
Posted by: fiveinchpixie | June 12, 2009 at 02:17 AM