The Grinch dissected by atonomy expert who says Christmas villain is most like a chimp and a cat
Anatomically, the Grinch is similar to a chimpanzee, a cat, a dog, and an owl.
This is Dr. That’s the conclusion of Lucy Hyde, an anatomy lecturer at the University of Bristol, who analyzed Seuss’s iconic Christmas villain as if he were a real biological specimen.
Drawing on his experience teaching human anatomy, Hyde examined what the Grinch’s skeleton, muscles, and brain would look like under green fur.
He wrote in The Conversation: “Underneath that growl and green fur, what kind of creature is he really? Even Dr Seuss didn’t really have an answer for that.”
“As an anatomist, I can’t help but wonder what the Grinch would look like on the dissecting table and what his skeleton, muscles, and brain could tell us about his unique origins.”
Starting with the skull, Hyde says the Grinch will have a hybrid facial structure that combines primate and canine features.
He explained: “Structurally, the Grinch’s facial skeleton blends primate and canine features: short, broad snout, high skull, and powerful jaws.”
This, he said, would allow for exaggerated expressions, from sarcastic expressions to smiles.
Meanwhile, Hyde said the Grinch’s teeth will be very similar to those of chimpanzees, with sharp canines for tearing food apart and strong molars for grinding.
Hyde added that his upper jaw had to be “firm and slightly domed” to accommodate his distinctive smile.
The lecturer also said that the Grinch’s whisker-like facial hair, provided by large nerve canals under his eyes, would function similarly to a cat’s whiskers, helping him detect movement when sneaking into Whoville.
Its yellow eyes are placed in forward-facing sockets, indicating a lifestyle adapted to low light, Hyde said.
He explained: “Many animals with yellow eyes, such as owls and cats, are adapted to low light.”
The Grinch’s posture also provides clues, as his spine likely “looks like a cross between a monkey and a cat – long, flexible and sinuous”, allowing him to bend, twist and move silently.
Hyde said he believes he will be walking on his toes, with a digital stance, like a cat or dog, softening his step as he prowls on Christmas Eve.
But his brain may explain his antisocial behavior.
Hyde suggested that the Grinch’s frontal lobes, which control planning, impulse regulation, and moral reasoning, would be relatively small.
He said: “This explains his hasty decisions and lack of foresight at the beginning of the story.”
On the other hand, the regions related to voice, memory and emotion will be highly developed.
Finally, Hyde touched on the famous quote about the Grinch’s heart expanding to three dimensions.
He said: “Biologically speaking, such a sudden expansion would be disastrous.”
Hyde stated that this is better understood as a metaphor.
He argued that real change occurs in the brain, not the chest.
