Navigation Links
Where Mother's Skin Turns Into Food For Offspring

Scientists have discovered a worm that feasts on its mother's skin - a practice they have never before seen in animals.//

Mark Wilkinson, a zoologist at the Natural History Museum in London and his team uncovered the bizarre form of parental care in Kenya, reported the online edition of the National Geographic channel.

The researchers observed the young of a caecilian, a type of limbless amphibian, feasting on their mother. They say the teeth of its young appear to be specially designed for eating its mother's flesh.

The doting limbless mother transforms its skin into a nourishing, fat-rich meal for its newborns to eat, they say.

There's nothing (in the animal kingdom) that peels off the skin and eats big chunks of it like these things are doing, Wilkinson said.

The team says the offspring of Boulengerula taitanus are entirely dependent on their parent's skin, which transforms into a kind of baby food that the study team likens to mother's milk in mammals.

The female's skin doubles in thickness during this period, the researchers found. You've got several layers of skin, and the outer layer is what they eat,
'"/>




Page: 1

Related medicine news :

1. Where there is a will, there is a way!
2. Where Is Our Healthcare System Heading?
3. Where it is wise to be a fool with food
4. Home Is Where the Gym Is
5. Where Burnt Out Executives De-stress in Natures Lap
6. Bacteria Fighter Goes Where Antibiotics Cant
7. NHS Trust Wants Abortion Mothers Case To Be Dismissed
8. Mothers Healthy Diet Protects Baby from Developing Atherosclerosis
9. Obesity Could Be Linked to Mothers Early Puberty
10. An Enzyme That Turns a One –time Experience into a long-time Memor
11. Daughter Turns Saviour: Ailing Mother Provided Wonder Drug Herceptin, To Fight Cancer
Post Your Comments:
Breaking Medicine News(10 mins):Health News:Docs Not Giving Clear Advice on Infant Sleep Positions 2Health News:Docs Not Giving Clear Advice on Infant Sleep Positions 3Health News:Orion Health Participates in International Forum to Break Down Barriers for Health Information Exchange 2Health News:Orion Health Participates in International Forum to Break Down Barriers for Health Information Exchange 3Health News:Oncologist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to Chair International Childhood Cancer Organization 2Health News:Oncologist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to Chair International Childhood Cancer Organization 3Health News:Oncologist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to Chair International Childhood Cancer Organization 4Health News:Workforce Alliance Earns Grant to Train Health Care Workers 2Health News:Workforce Alliance Earns Grant to Train Health Care Workers 3Health News:Independence Blue Cross Supports Pennsylvania Fitness Program with Grants to 10 Area Schools 2Health News:Independence Blue Cross Supports Pennsylvania Fitness Program with Grants to 10 Area Schools 3
Breaking Medicine Technology:Trubion and Facet Biotech Announce Presentation of Positive TRU-016 Data at the 2009 ASH Annual Meeting 2Trubion and Facet Biotech Announce Presentation of Positive TRU-016 Data at the 2009 ASH Annual Meeting 3Trubion and Facet Biotech Announce Presentation of Positive TRU-016 Data at the 2009 ASH Annual Meeting 4Trubion and Facet Biotech Announce Presentation of Positive TRU-016 Data at the 2009 ASH Annual Meeting 5Trubion and Facet Biotech Announce Presentation of Positive TRU-016 Data at the 2009 ASH Annual Meeting 6CompuCyte Announces the Release of Four-Laser Imaging Cytometers 2Royalty Pharma Announces that Alexander von Perfall Joins Management Team 2St Jude Childrens Research Hospital 28R 29 Chilis 28R 29 Grill 26 Bar Kick off Sixth Annual Create A Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer Campaign 55537 1St Jude Childrens Research Hospital 28R 29 Chilis 28R 29 Grill 26 Bar Kick off Sixth Annual Create A Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer Campaign 55537 2St Jude Childrens Research Hospital 28R 29 Chilis 28R 29 Grill 26 Bar Kick off Sixth Annual Create A Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer Campaign 55537 3Joint Commission Alert 3A Effective Leadership Critical to Preventing Medical Errors 55534 1Joint Commission Alert 3A Effective Leadership Critical to Preventing Medical Errors 55534 2Joint Commission Alert 3A Effective Leadership Critical to Preventing Medical Errors 55534 3Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories Ltd Announces Reversal of Summary Judgment in Ultracet 28R 29 ANDA Patent Litigation 55531 1Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories Ltd Announces Reversal of Summary Judgment in Ultracet 28R 29 ANDA Patent Litigation 55531 2