The proboscis monkey regularly barffs up its lunch – but it’s not because of a poor body image or need for attention.
The proboscis throws up so it can eat the food again!
Gorillas and humans will also sometimes upchuck, rechew, and swallow, but if done on even a semi-regular basis, the actions are considered to be pathological.
“The digestive tract of the proboscis monkey is drastically different from that of humans and great apes. The proboscis monkey has a distinct sacculated (chambered) forestomach where bacterial digestion occurs prior to the glandular stomach.”
explained the author of the study.
At least 23 different monkeys were videotaped regurgitating and rechewing. When this happened, the monkey’s abdomen would contract and the primate would stick its tongue outside its pursed mouth.
He explained the behavior likely allows the monkey to digest larger particles of food faster.
This, he theorized, “means the monkey can eat more sooner, because the bacteria do not need as long to digest the material.”
Yuck!
When we want something “hot and ready” we’ll stick to Little Caesars.
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