Mother Knows Best

When a predator or a rival orangutan shows up, mother orangutans scratch their leathery skin loudly to tell their infants, “Come on. It’s time to leave.” In fact, the scratching is loud enough to be heard 50 feet (15 m) away. Scientists think that perhaps the mother’s noisy scratching catches the attention of her young without alerting the predator.

Rock Eaters

Your mom would never serve a plate of rocks for dinner. But for some creatures and plants, rocks make a yummy meal.

Swallow

Crocodiles swallow stones to help digest their food. A new study also suggests that by stashing stones in their stomachs, crocodiles can stay under water longer.

Dissolve

Some Brazilian plants use acid to dissolve rock and absorb the chemical phosphorus for nutrients. Scientists hope to grow other plants with this rockeating ability to produce more food in hard soil.

Chew

The Philippine shipworm chews through limestone and poos out sand. Scientists aren’t sure how it gets nutrients. (photo by Dan Distel)

Kids Answers Magazine

Are You a Creation Ranger?

All right, recruit—we’re here to make you a creation ranger! This bootcamp will teach you what the Bible says about nature and how to care for God’s creation.

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