Observe as a serpent-like creature feeds its offspring with a substance similar to milk.
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have identified a snakelike amphibian that exhibits a behavior previously thought to be unique to mammals: nursing its young with a milklike substance. This revelation challenges conventional notions of parenthood in the animal kingdom.
The remarkable findings come from researchers investigating caecilians, a group of limbless, egg-laying creatures. Through their observations, scientists noticed a distinctive behavior exhibited by caecilian offspring. These young amphibians were found to emit peculiar sounds, described as clicks and chitters, through their nasal cavities multiple times a day. This behavior appeared to be a form of begging for milk from their mothers, as they were also observed nibbling on her occasionally.
This unusual nursing behavior was captured in a video, showcasing the interaction between the caecilian mother and her offspring. The researchers noted that the begging sounds and body movements, including what appeared to be "chewing" motions, were believed to stimulate lactation in the mother. By applying acoustic filters to eliminate background noise, the team was able to isolate and analyze the various sounds made by the offspring.
The persistence of the young caecilians paid off, as detailed in the report published in Science. The mother caecilian responded to her offspring's requests by releasing a white substance from her cloaca, which the young immediately consumed. This substance, referred to as "milk," is secreted from glands located in the caecilians' fallopian tubes and is found to be exceptionally rich in fatty acids, surpassing the fat content of cattle milk by threefold.
While true milk production is a characteristic exclusive to mammals, this discovery challenges the notion of nursing behaviors being limited to this group of animals. The study sheds light on the potential prevalence of such nursing practices across a wider spectrum of the animal kingdom than previously believed, showcasing the diverse ways in which parental care and feeding strategies can manifest in different species.
This groundbreaking research opens up new avenues for understanding the complexities of parental care and feeding behaviors in non-mammalian species. It underscores the importance of exploring and documenting such unique phenomena in the natural world to broaden our knowledge of evolutionary adaptations and biological diversity.
The identification of this snakelike amphibian engaging in a form of nursing behavior typically associated with mammals serves as a testament to the rich tapestry of life on Earth and the multitude of ways in which animals have evolved to care for their young. This discovery highlights the importance of continued scientific exploration and the ongoing quest to unravel the mysteries of the natural world.
Source: https://www.science.org/content/article/watch-snakelike-creature-feed-milk-its-young
This egg-laying, legless amphibian’s young eagerly drink the lipid-rich “milk” she provides. MAILHO-FONTANA ET AL., SCIENCE (2024)
The remarkable findings come from researchers investigating caecilians, a group of limbless, egg-laying creatures. Through their observations, scientists noticed a distinctive behavior exhibited by caecilian offspring. These young amphibians were found to emit peculiar sounds, described as clicks and chitters, through their nasal cavities multiple times a day. This behavior appeared to be a form of begging for milk from their mothers, as they were also observed nibbling on her occasionally.
This unusual nursing behavior was captured in a video, showcasing the interaction between the caecilian mother and her offspring. The researchers noted that the begging sounds and body movements, including what appeared to be "chewing" motions, were believed to stimulate lactation in the mother. By applying acoustic filters to eliminate background noise, the team was able to isolate and analyze the various sounds made by the offspring.
The persistence of the young caecilians paid off, as detailed in the report published in Science. The mother caecilian responded to her offspring's requests by releasing a white substance from her cloaca, which the young immediately consumed. This substance, referred to as "milk," is secreted from glands located in the caecilians' fallopian tubes and is found to be exceptionally rich in fatty acids, surpassing the fat content of cattle milk by threefold.
While true milk production is a characteristic exclusive to mammals, this discovery challenges the notion of nursing behaviors being limited to this group of animals. The study sheds light on the potential prevalence of such nursing practices across a wider spectrum of the animal kingdom than previously believed, showcasing the diverse ways in which parental care and feeding strategies can manifest in different species.
This groundbreaking research opens up new avenues for understanding the complexities of parental care and feeding behaviors in non-mammalian species. It underscores the importance of exploring and documenting such unique phenomena in the natural world to broaden our knowledge of evolutionary adaptations and biological diversity.
The identification of this snakelike amphibian engaging in a form of nursing behavior typically associated with mammals serves as a testament to the rich tapestry of life on Earth and the multitude of ways in which animals have evolved to care for their young. This discovery highlights the importance of continued scientific exploration and the ongoing quest to unravel the mysteries of the natural world.
Source: https://www.science.org/content/article/watch-snakelike-creature-feed-milk-its-young
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