Stuff you didn't know and probably don't care about

[William Gaatjes]

the inside mouth of a leatherback turtle is insane

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I learn something on the ATF every day.

https://metro.co.uk/2019/09/16/sea-turtles-have-terrifying-spikes-in-their-mouths-which-make-it-hard-to-spit-out-plastic-10750287/

Small excerpt from text :
"
Artist and biologist Helen Kairo, who runs the Anatomika Science Instagram account and website, drew some illustrations to explain why they have them.
She explains that they are anti-vomiting spikes.
‘Sea turtles swallow a lot of seawater while eating. As they eat, their stomach fills up with food and seawater.
‘They then vomit out all the water. The spikes trap food and keep it from coming out. It’s basically a reverse filter’.
"
And the sad truth about how us humans polluting the seas has a devastating effect as wel, on these sea creatures:
"
But plastic ocean pollution is having a dangerous effect on these creatures, adds Helen.
The natural spines in their mouth make it much harder for them when they ingest plastic as it often gets stuck.
‘This is why they have such a problem with plastic bags,’ she writes on Instagram. ‘It’s because the unique structure of their oesophagus makes it so that they can’t get rid of them.’
"