Alligators and crocodiles are known to swallow stones, which are called “gastroliths” when they settle in the creature's stomach. Some birds do this, too, but to help grind up their food. (Other marine creatures like seals also swallow stones.)
Scientists have long known that alligators, crocodiles, and other crocodylians frequently consume rocks on accident while attacking live prey or on purpose as a source of minerals, to get rid of parasites, or to help digest difficult meals — a behavior also practiced by some birds.
Scientists have long thought that, like birds, gators swallow stones to help them digest their tough-to-process meals, or accidentally ingest them in the chaos of consuming a live, thrashing dinner. But a new study supports another use for a belly full of rocks—as a way to boost bottom time on dives.
Help With Digestion
Rocks in a crocodile's stomach help crush and grate food. Rock swallowing is especially beneficial for crocodiles who eat whole prey, particularly animals with shells and tough bones.
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.
Alligators and crocodiles are known to swallow stones, which are called “gastroliths” when they settle in the creature's stomach. Some birds do this, too, but to help grind up their food. (Other marine creatures like seals also swallow stones.)
The largest known crocodile was big enough to swallow a human being and likely terrorized our ancestors two to four million years ago. The largest known crocodile was big enough to swallow a human being and probably terrorized our ancestors 2 million to 4 million years ago.
Many animals like crocodiles and seals eat rocks to help with digestion- they're called gastroliths.
Among living vertebrates, gastroliths are common among crocodiles, alligators, herbivorous birds, seals and sea lions. Domestic fowl require access to grit. Stones swallowed by ostriches can exceed a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in). Apparent microgastroliths have also been found in frog tadpoles.
"But Lithoredo abatanica is the only known animal that eats rock through burrowing." He described the rock-eating clams as "pretty bizarre — they are plump, translucent, worm-like clams." Most of the specimens the researchers collected were 4 inches (10 centimeters) long, but a few individuals were much larger.
Lots of animals eat rocks. Or at least they swallow rocks; they don't eat them in the sense of digesting them. This is true of many reptiles and birds that are alive today, and a few mammals such as seals and whales. It was also true of some extinct animals, including herbivorous dinosaurs and marine reptiles.
"Saltwater crocs have the strongest recorded bite force of any animal on the planet — [the] kind of force can easily crush a human skull," Frost said.
Still, crocodiles are capable of swallowing and digesting steel nails and even pieces of pots, glass and pans because their bodies have highly acidic and strong digestive juices that can dissolve steel nails and other hard materials quite easily.
They swallow stones because it's helping them with basic digestion, for "kneading" the food. This habit is especially beneficial for crocodiles who eat animals with shells and tough bones. This strange behaviour might enhance a crocodile's swimming skills.
"Basically (the last of the remains) can survive three to four weeks maximum - after that it is all broken down and the bones are demineralised by the acid and the collagen structure is digested," Dr Wood said. "It is unlikely the crocodile would have digested such dense bone material within a week.
The mud eventually dries around them and encases them for the dry season. Occasionally, all you can see is an eye peeking out of the mud! This is a process similar to hibernation called 'estivation'. Deep beneath the mud, they can survive for three or four months without water.
Starfish feeds on animals covered by hard shells of calcium carbonate. After opening the shell, the starfish pops out its stomach through its mouth to eat the soft animal inside the shell. The stomach then goes back into the body and the food is slowly digested.
Alligators, who powerfully hunt, swim, and dive, are some of the fiercest athletes of the animal world. They, too, have certain dietary habits. Besides the usual meals of live prey, they also consume what no human athlete wants to eat: rocks!
While the practice shouldn't be hidden or stigmatized, Mansbacher said, eating rocks and soil is unhealthy; it can introduce parasites, and rocks can puncture or tear internal tissue, causing bleeding.
Today salt is as ubiquitous as sunshine. Across cultures, it is the most common condiment on the planet.
If a crocodile heads your way, run away in a straight line. The myth about moving in a zig-zag motion is just that—a myth. Crocodiles can move at 10 miles per hour, so remove those flip flops so you can run faster.
But how quickly can they run? Most crocodiles can achieve speeds of around 12 to 14 kph for short periods, which is somewhat slower than a fit human can run. Don't believe the hype - if you're reasonably fit, you can definitely outrun a crocodile!
In July 2018, a man was reportedly killed by a saltwater crocodile in a breeding farm in West Papua, Indonesia. Locals slaughtered 292 crocodiles in revenge. On January 11, 2019, scientist Deasy Tuwo was eaten alive by a crocodile after falling into an enclosure at a research facility in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
There are two main reasons. First, crocodiles can live for a very long time without food. Second, they lived in places that were the least affected when the asteroid hit Earth.
In the wild, an older, weaker croc is more likely to face starvation or competition, but even in captivity, the animals inevitably die.