Tag: Gastroliths

While certain animals eat rocks naturally, for humans, eating rocks is incredibly dangerous. The practice, known as geophagy or lithophagy, poses severe health risks. Rocks are indigestible and can cause serious internal damage.

An estimated 69% of all bird species have been found with grit stones in their gizzards, highlighting this unique organ's importance. But what does the gizzard do in digestion? Essentially, it acts as a muscular mill, grinding food into smaller, more digestible particles for animals that do not possess teeth.