Welcome to Fast Facts with Reasons for Hope! I’m Carl Kerby and, today, we’re going to continue talking about the aardvark.
The aardvark mainly eats insects. It will dig through the hard shell of the insects’ mound, using its strong front claws, use its tongue, which can be up to twelve inches long, to reach into the tunnels to grab the insects, slurp them into its mouth, and then swallow them whole.
Yep, it’s true! The aardvark doesn’t chew its food – it swallows its food whole!
That’s not a good habit for humans, though. I remember my mom always telling me to “chew your food!”
Once the aardvark swallows the insects, things get interesting. Its stomach has a very muscular area which acts like a bird’s gizzard, grinding up the swallowed food before it enters the stomach.
The aardvark doesn’t have to chew its food – its stomach does it for him.
But, there’s a problem. What about the insects the aardvark eats? Wouldn’t they fight back? Yes, and they do, but our time’s up so we’ll have to talk about that in the next Fast Facts with Reasons for Hope. Until then… stay bold!
Carl Kerby is the founder of Reasons for Hope and co-creator of the DeBunked apologetic video series. His radio feature, Fast Facts, is heard weekly on VCY America, Saturdays at 9:25 AM Central.
