Do snakes fart?
That’s the question Twitter user Dani Rabaiotti had last year for ecologist David Steen, Ph.D.
https://twitter.com/DaniRabaiotti/status/818208792269717510
Based on his response, it’s clear that he’s gotten this question many times before.
<sigh> yes. https://t.co/Y2L00dcDZV
— David Steen, Ph.D. (@AlongsideWild) January 8, 2017
Yes, snakes do fart. 🐍 🌬
But of course, this simple answer brought some follow-up questions.
Is this the most common snake related question you get?
Also what's the composition of gasses in a snake fart?
Are they audible?
— Dani Rabaiotti (@DaniRabaiotti) January 8, 2017
General process of digestion is same for snakes as it is for us so that should give you idea as to diversity of fart sounds & composition. https://t.co/g415leSIj5
— David Steen, Ph.D. (@AlongsideWild) January 8, 2017
Snakes fart. More importantly, they fart just like us.
via GIPHY
While we wish Dr. Steen would expand more on the topic, he put an end to it pretty quickly.
@DaniRabaiotti Wait, I thought mammal farting was primarily due to swallowed air when chewing. Swallow whole, no farts.
— Barbara Tomlinson (@beachton) January 8, 2017
I only answer two snake fart questions a day. Sorry. https://t.co/4RCK6nLWjq
— David Steen, Ph.D. (@AlongsideWild) January 9, 2017
Luckily, the conversation continued yesterday when Dani published a children’s book.
I'm also the author of the book #doesitfart – along with @PlethodoNick. It's a book about animal flatulance born out of science Twitter! pic.twitter.com/0zLcEjVfFQ
— I Am SciComm – Dani Rabaiotti (@iamscicomm) April 2, 2018
Does it Fart? is a book Dani co-authored after her exchange with Dr. Steen. It hit shelves yesterday and TBH, I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy.
Dani was also gracious enough to share a little preivew
https://twitter.com/DaniRabaiotti/status/928282428199849991
So yes, we know that snakes fart, mammals fart, birds don’t… But we have no idea about spiders.
via GIPHY
