a little research story

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Posted by cwatbay on December 14, 1999 at 12:43:40:

This is a little, but true, story on diet research. It has to do with frogs, but can be applied to iguanas. The story goes as follows:
There was this species of frog whose stated and published diet was said to consist of vegetable matter and insects, specifically ants. For years, the biology community, contended that this diet was distinct and correct, after examining the innards of many frogs. After all, not too many frogs go around eating vegetables and other plant matter.

Finally, one day, a researcher went out into the wild, where the frogs live and set about observing their eating habits. The frogs went around eating insects, but were not seen eating plants.
Until......., the researcher observed the frogs near one of their favorite places, an ant trail. Here the frogs, being basically lazy, were gobbling up ants as the ants passed by. What was interesting is that these were Leaf Cutter Ants. And as such, each ant was carrying bits of leaves and other plant parts. Guess what, when the frogs ate the ants, they also got, as a by product, plants and vegetable matter that the ants were carrying. Now the frogs couldn't digest the plants, but they could digest the ants.

A story to remember when you read about researchers finding unual bits of stuff in the stomachs of igs. Also, if you studied the diet of small children, ie: their stomach contents, you could deduce that their diet consisted of: dirt, marbles, loose change, crayons, glue paste, and anything else that could fit into their mouth.

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Re: Truth is stranger than fiction? Glad 2 c u back CW! n/p BabyHerp 12/14/99 (0)

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: This is a little, but true, story on diet research. It has to do with frogs, but can be applied to iguanas. The story goes as follows: : There was this species of frog whose stated and published diet was said to consist of vegetable matter and insects, specifically ants. For years, the biology community, contended that this diet was distinct and correct, after examining the innards of many frogs. After all, not too many frogs go around eating vegetables and other plant matter. : Finally, one day, a researcher went out into the wild, where the frogs live and set about observing their eating habits. The frogs went around eating insects, but were not seen eating plants. : Until......., the researcher observed the frogs near one of their favorite places, an ant trail. Here the frogs, being basically lazy, were gobbling up ants as the ants passed by. What was interesting is that these were Leaf Cutter Ants. And as such, each ant was carrying bits of leaves and other plant parts. Guess what, when the frogs ate the ants, they also got, as a by product, plants and vegetable matter that the ants were carrying. Now the frogs couldn't digest the plants, but they could digest the ants. : A story to remember when you read about researchers finding unual bits of stuff in the stomachs of igs. Also, if you studied the diet of small children, ie: their stomach contents, you could deduce that their diet consisted of: dirt, marbles, loose change, crayons, glue paste, and anything else that could fit into their mouth. : CW

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