Gas, also known as flatulence, is a natural occurrence among most living things. When we and many other animals eat food, many chemical reactions occur in the intestines, including fermentation. As a result, volatile substances such as carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen are formed. These cannot accumulate in the intestines forever, and are always excreted from the body. However, there are animals in the world that never pass gas, although they eat almost the same food as us. The question arises: why do gases not accumulate in their intestines? And if they do accumulate, where do they go?
Pigeons and All Other Birds Don't Fart, and There's a Scientific Explanation
Contents
- 1 Why do people and animals fart?
- 2 How gases help animals communicate
- 3 Do cats and dogs fart?
- 4 Which animals can't fart?
Why do people and animals fart?
As mentioned above, gases in the intestines are formed during the digestion of food. But their source is not only fermented food. In addition, methane, hydrogen and other gases are produced by bacteria that live in our intestines and help break down food. They release especially many gases when eating food rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates. In addition, while eating and drinking, we swallow some air, which is also released as gases.
The formation of gases in the intestines is a natural and completely normal process. Photo source: psychologies.ru
If gases are not released, they begin to create pressure in the intestines, which causes pain and pressure in the intestines. Also, excess gases slow down the digestion process and can also affect the intestinal microflora – a collection of bacteria that help digest food. In very extreme and extreme cases, when gases are held back, they can stretch or even damage the intestines. But, it is worth repeating, this happens very rarely.
How gases help animals communicate
According to Popular Science, most animals, like humans, pass gas through their anus. But some creatures pass gas through their cloaca, the combined opening for urination and defecation.
Unlike humans, many animals pass gas for more than just emptying their bowels. Some animals fart for defense and even to communicate with their peers.
For example, herring emit flatulence to communicate with other fish. They emit sounds at such a high frequency that predatory animals cannot detect them. In essence, they use flatulence as a secret code.
Some fish use gases to communicate. Source: travelask.ru
And the Arizona snake (Micruroides euryxanthu) emits gases to scare off predators. They suck air into their cloaca and then suddenly release it with a popping sound.
Some species of fish eat algae, which themselves emit gases. When fish eat too much, the gases inside their bodies raise them closer to the surface, where predators may be waiting for them. By emitting gases, the fish sink back down and thus save their lives.
Do cats and dogs fart?
Like many other animals, cats and dogs can also fart. Dogs are especially likely to foul the air – many owners, hearing the characteristic sound, run to open the windows.
Yes, our pets fart too. Image source: dzen.ru
Cats fart without a loud sound and their smell is not so strong. But if a pet starts emitting gas more often than usual and it has a strong smell, this is a reason to contact a veterinarian.
Read also:Why Domestic Animals Look Like Their Owners – It's Much Simpler Than It Seems
Which Animals Can't Fart
Some species of animals can't fart, even though they eat like everyone else. They either don't produce gas at all or it comes out slowly through their mouths.
Animals that cannot fart include bats. They digest food so quickly that gases simply do not have time to form in their intestines. The same applies to birds, which not only do not emit gas, but also do not urinate – they do not have a bladder, so the liquid comes out with feces.
Bats are one of the animals that can't fart. Photo: Shutterstock
Sloths are also animals that can't fart. They have a very slow metabolism and, it would seem, there's plenty of time during digestion to produce gases. But with such a slow metabolism, the methane produced by intestinal microbes is absorbed and then exhaled through the mouth.
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But scientists still don't know whether frogs and other amphibians can fart. Even if they do fart, they probably do it silently. Biologists believe that at least in frogs, the muscles around the anus are so weak that the gases escaping cannot cause vibrations, which are the source of sound.