This strange behaviour might enhance a crocodile's swimming skills. Stones inside of a crocodile's stomach help him stay underwater. If you liked our work feel free to "Upvote" and "Resteem" Follow us and Stay tunned for more! All posts. By Zach St. By Daniel Grossman. Search Search. This article has really peaked my interest. I opted in for your Feed as well.
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RSS Feed. It seems that crocodiles intentionally will eat stones or rocks before diving in the water. It has been thought that one reason is to help with digestion. Rocks that have been in the digestive system of an animal are called gastroliths, which literally means "stomach stones.
A gastrolith can remain inside the stomach for years. Some scientists think they swallow the stones to increase their weight and to feel fuller. For years, it was hypothesized that eating stones might also help a crocodile stay under the water longer and to dive deeper. Many crocodilians like to float in the water with just their eyes and nostrils showing so they can ambush their prey.
It was thought that a stomach full of rocks might help the crocodile keep their bodies under the water and out of sight. New research shows that this hypothesis might be wrong! However, a low number of rocks might keep the crocodile from rolling from side to side. Also, with fewer rocks, they might not have helped grind up their food either.
It is surprising what we are finding out today! Stones inside of a crocodile's belly help him stay underwater. If you ever happen to see a crocodile looking for rocks by a riverbank, you might know what he's up to. By using the site, you agree to the uses of cookies and other technology as outlined in our Policy, and to our Terms of Use. Gastroliths Crocodiles and several types of birds are among the animals who swallow stones, according to the Museum of Paleontology at the University of California Berkeley.
Help With Digestion Crocodiles don't swallow stones out of appreciation for the taste. Extra "Weight" Apart from making the digestion process go a little bit smoother, stone swallowing also can a crocodile feel heavier and fuller, according to some scientists.
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