perishthethought
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”?
I’m sure I’ll get guff for this but, “common sense”. Throughout my youth, when people told me something was common sense, I usually thought they were wrong.
Obligatory: I feel called out.
My American self: Three WEEKS!?!?!!!?!!?
Stuff and nonsense, as usual
https://www.dailydot.com/debug/senator-jd-vance-dolphin-twitter-x/
No need for a second term either.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demodex
My fave parts (edited for brevity):
The adult mites are 0.3–0.4 mm (3⁄256–1⁄64 in) long. Each has a semitransparent, elongated body that consists of two fused parts. Eight short, segmented legs are attached to the first body segment. The body is covered with scales for anchoring itself in the hair follicle, and the mite has pin-like mouthparts for eating skin cells and oils that accumulate in the hair follicles.
… and …
The mites are transferred between hosts through contact with hair, eyebrows, and the sebaceous glands of the face.
Ohhh good.
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
I hate how these kinds of messages never explain WHY. It’s just “Do it. Do what we tell you.” 💀
