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Platypuses (mander.xyz)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
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[–] 72 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (3 children)

I went down this rathole.

They first grind up the bugs they eat in their mouths, then they have a chamber with bacteria which further reduce their food, then their intestines finish the job.

ETA, since you all are such curious cats:

https://wildlifefaq.com/platypus-stomach/

and

https://platypus.asn.au/platypus-myths/

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  • [–] 16 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    so whats the chamber between the mouth and intestine called?

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  • [–] 31 points 2 years ago

    https://platypus.asn.au/platypus-myths/

    The fact is that the platypus’s digestive tract does include a small expanded pouch-like section where one would normally expect a stomach to be located. The platypus’s stomach doesn’t secrete digestive acids or enzymes (Harrop and Hume 1980; Ordoñez et al. 2008), but does produce a mucus-rich fluid to assist nutrient absorption in the intestines (Krause 1971). Following on from the discussion of grinding pads above, it would seem that a platypus masticates food so thoroughly in its mouth that little additional processing is required before food reaches the intestines. Also, because a platypus consumes numerous small prey items over a period of many hours, its stomach doesn’t need to have a large holding capacity to accommodate infrequent large meals.

    Sooo, "gullet"?

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  • [–] 6 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Thanks for doing so, did you figure out why they glow?

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