SCIENCE
Yeah, you read that right. What else do you need to know, really? (Washington Post)
Do we smell a citizen science project?
Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit.
Engraving courtesy the Wellcome Library, London. CC-BY-4.0
Discussion Ideas
- So, scientists have compiled a database of animal farts. What are farts?
- Farts, also known as flatulence, describe gas generated or held in the stomach or intestines, and expelled through the anus.
- Farting is literally passing gas: the root word of flatulence is the Latin word flatus, meaning “a blowing, breaking wind.”
- The scientific study of farts is called flatology. Really!
- Those who have the ability to fart at will are known as flatulists, and have been entertaining people for more than 1,500 years. (And that’s just documented. Our guess is that our pre-literate ancestral hominin brethren included flatulists.)
- OK, so why are scientists cataloging evidence of animal farts?
- Public engagement.
- “When scientists can present these seemingly silly facts, it invites people to be part of what we know and to find out what we don’t, which enables us to show how science works,” said Cassandra Raby, a researcher with the Zoological Society of London.
- “I don’t know if animal flatulence questions can serve as a significant gateway to a greater appreciation of biodiversity, but it is always fun to see what captures people’s attention,” says David Steen, a wildlife ecologist at Auburn University. “It is at least an opportunity to engage with a larger audience and bring new folks into the conversation.”
- Share ignored data.
- “This type of info, unless directly relevant to the study, may not make it into our publications,” says Nick Caruso, a researcher at the University of Alabama, “and we don’t always get a chance to talk about it.”
- Genuine study of anatomy, biology, and climatology.
- “The diets and digestive systems of animals are an important and fascinating field of study,” says Adriana Lowe, a researcher of biological anthropology at the University of Kent, “and gas is just a part of that.”
- “Cattle gas, for example, is a significant contributor to atmospheric methane that contributes to climate change.” Human gas is not so significant, but the “world’s only performing flatulist” is called Mr. Methane.
- Public engagement.
- So, #DoesItFart?
- Yes. Click through this gallery of farting animals from Photo Ark, and remember: the one who smelt it dealt it.
South Georgia Island has “extremely gassy seals.” Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
Bearded dragons sometimes fart before pooping. Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
Orangutans “do it often and have no shame.” Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
Atlantic herring fart to communicate. Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
![A biologist confirms that “bobcats, gray foxes [above] fart.” Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark](https://i0.wp.com/blog.education.nationalgeographic.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/pa-grayfox.jpg?w=236&h=157&ssl=1 "Gray Fox")
A biologist confirms that “bobcats, gray foxes [above] fart.” Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
Baboons fart, and apparently fertile females produce the worst toots. Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
Tapirs fart “in great amplitude,” writes one ecologist. Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
Lions fart, at least when sedated. Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
African wild dogs definitely fart, as do their domestic cousins. Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
![“The bigger [bats] are, the harder they fart.” Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark](https://i0.wp.com/blog.education.nationalgeographic.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/pa-bats.jpg?w=356&h=236&ssl=1 "Pallid Bat")
“The bigger [bats] are, the harder they fart.” Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
Rats can’t burp, but they sure can fart. Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
“Snakes sometimes discharge feces and musk as a defensive strategy, and this is often accompanied by what I would consider classic fart noises,” says one ecologist. Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
Guinea pigs produce clouds of brown mist that “stink to high heaven.” Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
Fact: Wombats not only fart, but poop square-shaped feces. Is that the only thing you’ll remember from this study guide?
Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
Oh, you know these guys fart. Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark
- Do any animals NOT fart?
- Yes, a lot, actually.
- Birds don’t fart.
- Marine invertebrates, such as clams or whelks, don’t fart. Cephalopods such as squids only fart if we count air coming out of their siphon as farting.
- Salamanders and frogs have weak sphincters and probably don’t fart, but could.
- Badgers apparently produce some of the most disgusting scat in the animal kingdom, but have yet to be recorded as farting. Yet. (We smell a dissertation!)
- Yes, a lot, actually.
TEACHERS TOOLKIT
Washington Post: Scientists are building an animal fart database
Nat Geo: Citizen Science Projects
I wonder how cat’s fart smells like.
I laughed, then farted.
Hahaha, fart database, this is quite hilarious. But it is great that scientist work on every aspect of animals!
Fat crazy amazing stuff
This is great, pls keep it up
Wow really educating… I didn’t even know any animals fart at all.. 👍👍👍
Lol me 2
😊
Funny my last post was on the same subject – farting. I laughed through your post and learned a few things too- and here I was thinking I knew everything about farts with two sons! You might enjoy my post – don’t hide the baby !
Wow I did’nt know these information, nice fun facts.
Wow crazy for real
Because science!
Inquiring minds want to know everything! This got my attention. My grand-kids will appreciate this knowledge.
I love this post!
I love it 2
If we could control our facts we can use our body as a musical instrument.
I think my kids are going to love this article. Definitely not your typical zoology topic!
Nicee thankyou
I ve never thought about that there s a science called flatology !! And that salamander can not fart! I am still on laughing! Good to know 👍💪😆😆
Fartology 😂😂😂srry
You got it right the first time! Flatology is the study of farts.
😂😂😂😂😂
Wow!!!
I’m just awed
I really hope no tax dollars went to this study. If it was private $$ then fart it away. 😄
This article made my day!
I’m going to look up Why rats can’t burp now, lol!
I love this post! 🙂
WOW!! I learned something new everyday. Who would have thought that the study of farts is simply Fartology. What a stinky major 🙂
Excellent.
I have two boys – one aged 3 and one 6. As you can imagine farting is the source of a great deal of conversation in our house. They are both also very interested in animals.
This blog post will be up for discussion after dinner tonight, and probably for several days.
I’m confident in confirming now that you can consider my boys big fans!
This was so fun to read! I wish I would have read it yesterday–I was feeding my tortoise and I thought I heard what sounded like gas–but thought; no–tortoises probably don’t do that! Well…hahahaha…thanks again for posting!
Wow
If they are in any doubt, they should come round to my house and smell my dog’s emissions. In fact they can take the stinking hound away with them.
I’ve never heard our rabbit fart. The dogs and cats certainly do. One of our dogs has scared herself with the sound of her own fart. 😂💨
Reblogged this on CLARA BOIA.
Haha cute and informational
Omg don’t they have anything better to do
Ok now that is something new !
Ok now that is something new here!
Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
My son’s enjoyed these fun facts.
Interesting piece of information.
This is hysterical and informative and there is nothing I would have rather read first with my Sunday morning coffee.
Kat
http://www.withasideofsarcasm.com
Everything about this just made my day.
This was totally beyond my vision !! Grt post 🙂
It’s really amazing to know about fart database… 👍

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