The night howler flower, scientifically known as Midnicampum holicithias, has gained significant attention due to its role in the animated film, Zootopia.
Initially perceived as a fictitious element, this flower turns out to exist in reality and is closely related to the autumn crocus variety.
Its representation in the film raises curiosity about the potential effects of its real-world counterpart.
In Zootopia, the night howler flowers are used to concoct a serum that induces aggressive behavior in mammals, a significant plot device.
The real-life autumn crocus exhibits similar toxicity, making the connection between the film’s representation and reality even more intriguing.
Further exploration into the plant’s origins, toxicity, and potential uses provides a fascinating insight into its role both in the film and in the natural world.
In this article, we'll cover
1. Night Howler Flower Overview
Night Howlers can cause potent psychological and physical reactions in mammals through consumption or exposure to pollen.
These effects are used in Zootopia by the antagonist, Doug Ramses, a chemist who weaponizes the flowers’ toxic properties to create a serum that transforms civilized animals into aggressive beasts.
The Night Howler flower is closely related to the autumn crocus, a plant known for its harmful effects on both mammals and insects.
Its toxic properties have been studied extensively in botanical research, further establishing the fictional plant’s connection to its real-world counterpart.
In conclusion, the Night Howler flower draws inspiration from the real and dangerous autumn crocus and plays a crucial role in understanding the natural world and the potential consequences of using its properties irresponsibly.
2. Role in Zootopia Film
In Zootopia, Assistant Mayor Dawn Bellwether and her accomplice Doug use the Night Howler’s chemical compounds to create a serum, setting the stage for escalating tensions between predator and prey mammals.
This serum, introduced to victims through a dart gun, turns them into aggressive creatures, furthering Bellwether’s hidden agenda to create division and undermine predators’ standing in society.
The protagonists, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, work together to solve the mystery of these savage occurrences.
They uncover Bellwether’s plot and link the incidents to the Night Howler-induced serum, resulting in Bellwether’s arrest for her crimes.
The scientific name of the Night Howler, Midnicampum Holicithias, reflects its influence on mammals and its central role in the Zootopia plot.
3. Effects on Mammals
Night howler flowers have a potent impact on mammals when ingested or when their toxins enter the bloodstream.
Symptoms include convulsions, loss of self-control, increased aggressiveness, and a noticeable eye change, highlighting its danger for all mammals.
The Zootopia Police Department (ZPD) led a major investigation into the effects of night howlers after several predator mammals disappeared and turned savage without explanation.
ZPD officers Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde managed to uncover the connection between these incidents and the night howler flowers.
The evidence collected implicated Mayor Lionheart and his accomplice, Terry, in the case, leading to their arrests.
Night howler flowers’ toxins were found to be an effective pesticide, inadvertently entering the food chain and causing psychological effects on larger mammals.
Understanding these effects allowed the ZPD to address night howler-induced aggression and manage the risk posed by these toxic flowers to their society.
4. Means of Exposure and Antidote
Night howlers cause potent psychological and neurological effects in mammals upon consumption or contact with pollen.
In Zootopia, Doug Ramses created a concentrated pellet form of the night howler toxin, loaded into a sniper gun, to inject the toxin into victims’ bloodstream.
Despite the film not providing explicit details about any available antidotes, it is plausible that experts in chemistry or pharmacology could develop a remedy or treatment to counteract and mitigate the night howler’s harmful effects on mammals.
5. Film Plot Involvement
In Zootopia, the Night Howler flower significantly impacts the film’s narrative.
The flower’s toxic properties, when concentrated into a serum, can transform civilized mammals into savage beasts.
The central plot revolves around the disappearance of 14 predator animals secretly held captive by Mayor Lionheart to prevent city-wide panic.
The predators were injected with the Night Howler serum by chemist Doug Ramses, causing them to lose their civilized behavior.
This serum was part of a strategy implemented by the main antagonist, Dawn Bellwether, to stir fear towards predator animals and maintain control over the city.
The protagonist, Judy Hopps, initially misinterprets the term “Night Howlers” as referring to wolves, leading to further chaos in Zootopia.
However, Judy and her partner, Nick Wilde, eventually discover the truth about the Night Howler flower and Doug’s secret laboratory, where the serum was synthesized.
This revelation illuminates the root cause of the savage incidents and puts a stop to the city’s growing unrest.
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