However,\u00a0some hardy animals\u00a0are able to\u00a0survive and even perform fairly impressive feats despite lacking a head. This is primarily due to some\u00a0really interesting physiological differences between these animals and humans – differences in metabolism, circulation, brain size and shape, and even in the ability to regenerate and re-grow.<\/p>
Sometimes too there is an element of sheer luck involved, as with the famous chicken who is first on this list. Read on to find out more about these extraordinary animals who survive against the odds.\u00a0<\/p>
10 animals that can survive without a head<\/h2>Chicken<\/h3>Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure>Of course, this list had to start with a chicken, what else! The story, and the popular saying, stem from the remarkable case of a lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you look at it) chicken called Mike the headless chicken<\/a>, who despite being decapitated and destined for the dinner table subsequently survived a remarkable 18 months! <\/p>- Can chickens fly? They might not be as grounded as you think<\/a><\/li>
- Do hens have teeth?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
This is because, although his head was removed, much of his brain stem remained intact, allowing him to still perform many basic functions and remain surprisingly healthy. Mike holds the record for the longest chicken to survive without a head, but he is not the only one. It is not uncommon for neurons to continue to fire after a beheading in chickens, and sometimes they might even run around for a short time. But we are talking more like 15 minutes, nothing close to 18 months, so Mike truly was exceptional.\u00a0<\/p>
\u00a0Cockroach<\/h3>![\"How](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2023\/03\/How-long-can-a-cockroach-live-without-its-head.jpg\")
Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure>Although not quite\u00a0as long as\u00a0miraculous Mike, the ability of cockroaches to survive without heads<\/a> is still impressive. These hardy insects have been known to live for weeks following\u00a0decapitation. <\/p>This is in part because, as insects, they don\u2019t breathe through their nose and mouth like we do, but through openings on their thorax and abdomen called spiracles. In humans, breathing is controlled by the brain, and so we wouldn’t be able to do it without a head, not so in insects<\/a>. <\/p>- What’s the insect equivalent of blood?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
Perhaps even more pressingly, decapitation in humans would also result in a swift death due to blood loss. Insects do not have blood pressure in the way that we do, due to their open (rather than closed) circulatory systems.\u00a0Thus,\u00a0their blood<\/a>\u00a0quickly clots after their head is chopped off and they don\u2019t bleed out.\u00a0<\/p>Wasps<\/h3>![\"A](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2023\/03\/The-common-wasp-1b18004.jpg\")
Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure>Similarly to cockroaches, the insect physiology of wasps<\/a> means that they don\u2019t die immediately after decapitation. In addition to the differences in blood pressure and breathing apparatus, insects also have quite a different nervous system to mammals for example. <\/p>- Bee vs wasp: what’s the difference between these two stinging insects?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
Whilst their head does contain important parts of their nervous system, they also have clusters of nerves\u00a0elsewhere in their bodies. It is these that allow for reactions to stimuli, movement, and even flight without a head.\u00a0In particular this\u00a0demonstrates the importance of the ventral nerve cord – a major component of the insect nervous system that runs down the length of the body. <\/p>
The fact that many insects can\u00a0still walk, groom, and\u00a0even\u00a0mate without their brains indicates that this cord is able to enact complex functions by itself.\u00a0<\/p>
\u00a0Axolotl\u00a0<\/h3>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2024\/09\/Axolotl-.jpg\")
Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure>This next animal perhaps couldn’t survive a full-on decapitation, but it does have a remarkable ability to regenerate. These singular salamanders can regrow almost any body part or organ, from missing limbs to lost tails to their heart. Axolotl<\/a>\u00a0can also regenerate their brains!<\/p>- Masters of regeneration: these death-defying animals can regrow body parts better than Deadpool<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
Studies have shown that they can regenerate large parts of their brains, even if a large chunk has been removed. It is thought that all\u00a0tetrapods\u00a0have the ability to\u00a0regenerate organs or limbs as embryos, but most lose this ability as they develop into adults.<\/p>
Axolotls carry this capacity throughout their lives, much as they retain many other juvenile salamander traits, like their external gills<\/a> and aquatic habits.\u00a0<\/p>
Of course, this list had to start with a chicken, what else! The story, and the popular saying, stem from the remarkable case of a lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you look at it) chicken called Mike the headless chicken<\/a>, who despite being decapitated and destined for the dinner table subsequently survived a remarkable 18 months! <\/p> This is because, although his head was removed, much of his brain stem remained intact, allowing him to still perform many basic functions and remain surprisingly healthy. Mike holds the record for the longest chicken to survive without a head, but he is not the only one. It is not uncommon for neurons to continue to fire after a beheading in chickens, and sometimes they might even run around for a short time. But we are talking more like 15 minutes, nothing close to 18 months, so Mike truly was exceptional.\u00a0<\/p> Although not quite\u00a0as long as\u00a0miraculous Mike, the ability of cockroaches to survive without heads<\/a> is still impressive. These hardy insects have been known to live for weeks following\u00a0decapitation. <\/p> This is in part because, as insects, they don\u2019t breathe through their nose and mouth like we do, but through openings on their thorax and abdomen called spiracles. In humans, breathing is controlled by the brain, and so we wouldn’t be able to do it without a head, not so in insects<\/a>. <\/p> Perhaps even more pressingly, decapitation in humans would also result in a swift death due to blood loss. Insects do not have blood pressure in the way that we do, due to their open (rather than closed) circulatory systems.\u00a0Thus,\u00a0their blood<\/a>\u00a0quickly clots after their head is chopped off and they don\u2019t bleed out.\u00a0<\/p> Similarly to cockroaches, the insect physiology of wasps<\/a> means that they don\u2019t die immediately after decapitation. In addition to the differences in blood pressure and breathing apparatus, insects also have quite a different nervous system to mammals for example. <\/p> Whilst their head does contain important parts of their nervous system, they also have clusters of nerves\u00a0elsewhere in their bodies. It is these that allow for reactions to stimuli, movement, and even flight without a head.\u00a0In particular this\u00a0demonstrates the importance of the ventral nerve cord – a major component of the insect nervous system that runs down the length of the body. <\/p> The fact that many insects can\u00a0still walk, groom, and\u00a0even\u00a0mate without their brains indicates that this cord is able to enact complex functions by itself.\u00a0<\/p> This next animal perhaps couldn’t survive a full-on decapitation, but it does have a remarkable ability to regenerate. These singular salamanders can regrow almost any body part or organ, from missing limbs to lost tails to their heart. Axolotl<\/a>\u00a0can also regenerate their brains!<\/p> Studies have shown that they can regenerate large parts of their brains, even if a large chunk has been removed. It is thought that all\u00a0tetrapods\u00a0have the ability to\u00a0regenerate organs or limbs as embryos, but most lose this ability as they develop into adults.<\/p> Axolotls carry this capacity throughout their lives, much as they retain many other juvenile salamander traits, like their external gills<\/a> and aquatic habits.\u00a0<\/p>\u00a0Cockroach<\/h3>
Wasps<\/h3>
\u00a0Axolotl\u00a0<\/h3>
![\"European](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/02\/European-mantis_Paul-Starosta_GettyImages-522191246-7668df4.jpg\")