Why Do Crocodiles Eat Rocks

Why Do Crocodiles Eat Rocks?

Did you know that some crocodiles eat stones? And yes, it sounds strange, but it is true. These rocks are called gastroliths, and they are an essential part of a crocodile's life. It may appear as though the snapping crocodile is gulping down everything in its path, but there's a method to the madness.

Crocodiles sit on rocks for two main reasons. For one, the rocks help digestion. Secondly, the rocks help to fill up the water for the crocodile to balance itself as it floats. Let's unpack what needs to be delivered and how these little rocks are doing that.

1. Rocks Help with Digestion

Crocodiles are meat-eaters, and meat-eaters eat meat. (They nourish themselves off animals, fish, birds, and, in some cases, larger creatures like deer or wild pigs.) Crocodiles do not have to grind their food as humans do. They are ripping the flesh, dragging down pieces of meat. That is, they swallow their food in huge, honkin' pieces that slump into the stomach in great big chunks.

So, how do they take all this food and put it in their stomach? This is where the rocks come in. If a crocodile does eat these pebbles, they stay in the stomach. The stones help to pulverize the food, as it whirls about in the stomach. It is a bit like teeth in your stomach. This way, the crocodile can better digest the food, as well as absorb key nutrients from them.

This is not a strategy reserved for crocodiles. Some were birds, some dinosaurs, and they, too, would swallow rocks for the same reason. The tendency to eat rocks is called lithophagy, and it exists all across the animal kingdom.

2. Rocks for Balance in Water

Crocodiles are also predominantly aquatic. They are good swimmers and often swim with wagging tails. But swimming is about more than motion. It also requires balance. A badly balanced croc could swamp or reverse. Which would make for demanding hunting.

And when a crocodile eats a rock or two, those rocks just stay in its stomach, acting as pebble laundering beads. These rassels make the crocodile, It's as if our brains are like scuba divers, and, in order to go underwater, you put on weight belts. The rocks are also good for young crocodiles who may be slow to position themselves well enough to swim and hunt. With better balance, they can more easily and safely swim in rivers and lakes.

Other Animals That Eat Rocks

Rocks get eaten by more than crocodiles. Some birds, such as chickens and ostriches, do the same, eating small stones to help grind their food. And some turtles and seals can do this, too.

In fact, researchers suggest that even some dinosaurs used to munch on rocks to help digest their food. It is astounding that animals millions of years apart tricked predators in the same exact manner.

Whether it is at the massage or on the butt, the nature always wins. If an animal is experiencing a problem related to digestion or mobility, the answer sometimes is as simple as swallowing a bell full of rocks.

So the next time you see a crocodile, remember it might be full of rocks! These are not some stray little stones or junk. They are tools of the crocodile's survival. Whether it's helping them digest their food or keep themselves balanced in water, these rocks play a big part in a crocodile's life.

Baby crocodiles

baby crocodiles also ingest stones. Those rocks are known as gastroliths. Young crocodiles devour them for two primary reasons. Rocks also help them to digest their food better for two reasons. Because crocodiles don't chew, the stones assist with grinding the food in their stomach. Second, when young crocodiles swim, the rocks prompt them to learn to keep themselves balanced. In the early days of learning to move in water, the weight of the rocks served as a stabilizer. This is known as lithophagy, and other animals do it as well. So even little crocodiles chomp down on rocks, not by accident, but because it makes them grow up big and strong.

Nature is full of surprises. This is true even for a crocodile that consumes rocks, there is method to its madness. Isn't that amazing?