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Why do animals swallow rocks?
Apr 11, 2025
Courtney Shewitt, from the Assiniboine Park Conservancy, shares her insights on sea lions' puzzling habit of swallowing rocks, known as gastroliths. Oliver Wings, director of the Natural History Museum in Bamberg, showcases fascinating discoveries from his vast collection, including surprising finds like gemstones. They discuss the various purposes of gastroliths, such as aiding digestion and buoyancy control. The conversation also touches on other rock-swallowing species, like ostriches and penguins, highlighting the complexity of animal behaviors in this quirky phenomenon.
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Quick takeaways
- Rock swallowing in animals like sea lions may aid digestion by grinding food, especially during lean feeding periods.
- Research on birds reveals that rocks function as essential tools for digestion, providing insights into the gastrolith behavior of marine mammals.
Deep dives
The Mystery of Rock Swallowing in Sea Lions
Many animals, including sea lions and seals, are known to swallow rocks, a behavior that piques curiosity among biologists. One theory suggests this act aids in digestion, helping these animals grind up their food more effectively, especially when they consume prey whole. Researchers have found that sea lions often possess large stones, referred to as gastroliths, which they might ingest to assist in processing fish. The timing of rock ingestion appears to correlate with leaner periods in summer, indicating a potential intentional function related to feeding.
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