Now - Does it Fart? may seem to some like a novelty book that you find at Urban Outfitters or Paper Source - something kitschy and fun to have around, but lo and behold - there is real science and substance in this book! It is kitschy and fun to have around, but you might learn something too! It's that useless knowledge about hind gut fermentation and animal flatulence that might help you win when you find yourself face to face with Ken Jennings on Jeopardy! or playing a heated and competitive game of Trivial Pursuit.
I was surprised about some of the animals that don't fart: parrots, sea anemone, goldfish. I was also surprised by some animals that do fart that I didn't think would: boa constrictors, American cockroaches, beaded lacewing (yes, this is a thing). I was even more surprised by what some animals do with their farts: one species of lacewings fart on prey - their farts are so potent to termites that they are stunned, paralyzed, and then they die. African Wild dogs apparently get so excited after hunting and returning to the pack that they spontaneously poop and fart everywhere (and subsequently are very stinky). Poor sea cucumbers are non-farters and have a species of pearlfish that live inside their bums - they are safe from predators in there. While there, the pearlfish eat the gonads of the sea cucumber, which isn't as devastating as it may seem - their gonads regenerate.
So - science! learning! farts! animals! This book has it all.
I loved it. The illustrations are hilarious - just check this one out:
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