Owlscrying Posted February 9, 2008 #1 Share Posted February 9, 2008 One of the strangest meal-times in the animal kingdom has been caught on film by a BBC crew. The team recorded footage of a female worm-like amphibian, called a caecilian, allowing her young to peel off and eat her skin. Scientists have only recently discovered this bizarre parental behaviour. The female caecilian's skin becomes thicker and more nutrient-rich when she bears offspring. And the young have specialised teeth for tearing and removing it. The crew was able to catch this behaviour on camera by building a set which resembled the shallow, humid underground chambers that the creatures live in. The caecilian babies would only eat their mother's skin for about 10 minutes, once every three days, and often at night. go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incorrigible1 Posted February 9, 2008 #2 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Fascinating. Not unlike providing milk for the offspring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xCrimsonx Posted February 9, 2008 #3 Share Posted February 9, 2008 "ewwwwwwww" You do what ya gotta do! OMG thats nasty still. I dont think that theres an amphibian that actually gives milk to young! lol At least its its skin and not its poop. Should think themselves lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalienan Posted February 9, 2008 #4 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Although amazing, I'm glad there wasn't a video to watch....I don't think I could handle that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hissie Sola Posted February 9, 2008 #5 Share Posted February 9, 2008 At least its its skin and not its poop. Should think themselves lucky. Indeed! There are some mammals that eat their parents' poop to jumpstart their digestive systems (like elephants). Still, eating your parents' skin is pretty nasty as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rojiva Posted February 9, 2008 #6 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Would be nice to fish with that kinda worm :> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incorrigible1 Posted February 9, 2008 #7 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Although amazing, I'm glad there wasn't a video to watch....I don't think I could handle that Huh? Did you choose not to watch the available video? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalienan Posted February 9, 2008 #8 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Huh? Did you choose not to watch the available video? I looked at the picture and read the article, just went back and saw that there was a video...And had I seen there was a video in the first place, I still wouldn't have watched it....The picture was enough for me....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incorrigible1 Posted February 9, 2008 #9 Share Posted February 9, 2008 I looked at the picture and read the article, just went back and saw that there was a video...And had I seen there was a video in the first place, I still wouldn't have watched it....The picture was enough for me....... Nan, do you bait your own hook when you go fishing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalienan Posted February 9, 2008 #10 Share Posted February 9, 2008 (edited) Nan, do you bait your own hook when you go fishing? Are you being serious........ If you are, yes I have....It's not the worms it's the worms eating the skin.... Edited February 9, 2008 by goalienan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pax Unum Posted February 9, 2008 #11 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Fascinating... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incorrigible1 Posted February 9, 2008 #12 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Are you being serious........ If you are, yes I have....It's not the worms it's the worms eating the skin.... Fair enough! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalienan Posted February 9, 2008 #13 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Fair enough! Is that your Seal of Approval Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incorrigible1 Posted February 9, 2008 #14 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Is that your Seal of Approval That's my flesh-eating worm of approval. They're cute and cuddly. They only nip a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalienan Posted February 9, 2008 #15 Share Posted February 9, 2008 That's my flesh-eating worm of approval. They're cute and cuddly. They only nip a little. LOL...I gather your a fisherman..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incorrigible1 Posted February 9, 2008 #16 Share Posted February 9, 2008 LOL...I gather your a fisherman..... I drown a few worms. The fish seem amused, for the most part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swtp Posted February 10, 2008 #17 Share Posted February 10, 2008 (edited) Although amazing, I'm glad there wasn't a video to watch....I don't think I could handle that There was a video, and it really wasn,t that bad goali! Infact it was very interesting, thanks for the great find Owls ! Edited February 10, 2008 by swtp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalienan Posted February 10, 2008 #18 Share Posted February 10, 2008 There was a video, and it really wasn,t that bad goali! Infact it was very interesting, thanks for the great find Owls ! Ewww your brave... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swtp Posted February 10, 2008 #19 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Ewww your brave... Honestly goalie, it was more like they were eating the skin she was shehedding, and not at all like they were cannibalising their mommy at all! Go on be brave, check it out and see! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalienan Posted February 10, 2008 #20 Share Posted February 10, 2008 Honestly goalie, it was more like they were eating the skin she was shehedding, and not at all like they were cannibalising their mommy at all! Go on be brave, check it out and see! There, I hope your satisfied my friend....I watched it half way through and thank goodness the video was dark because it was hard to see......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swtp Posted February 11, 2008 #21 Share Posted February 11, 2008 There, I hope your satisfied my friend....I watched it half way through and thank goodness the video was dark because it was hard to see......... Well i,m very proud of you anyway, and your courage is to be commended my firend! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goalienan Posted February 11, 2008 #22 Share Posted February 11, 2008 Well i,m very proud of you anyway, and your courage is to be commended my firend! Thank You, I am now taking my bows..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andromedae Posted February 12, 2008 #23 Share Posted February 12, 2008 it was on life in cold blood by David attenborough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mystlylizzy Posted February 12, 2008 #24 Share Posted February 12, 2008 (edited) Okkkaay... Thats gross Imagin humans done the same as them at birth? Wouldn't be a pretty site. btw Out of curiosity... If they eat the flesh, do the parent still live? if still do, what keeps the insides... inside? Probaly a very reasonable simple answer that I didn't think of... but I'd like to know Thats how you learn Edited February 12, 2008 by Mystlylizzy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meltus Posted February 12, 2008 #25 Share Posted February 12, 2008 (edited) i saw this on Life In Cold Blood on BBC 1 last night. very interesting. I think they're a type of salamander. "Out of curiosity... If they eat the flesh, do the parent still live? if still do, what keeps the inside... inside?" if i remember correctly, after birth the parent develops nutrient rich skin which the offspring tear off every day for however long it is (can't remember). The skin grows back every day or every other day. or something like that Edited February 12, 2008 by Meltus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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