7 Intriguing Facts About Animal Flatulence

Anyone who's owned a pet knows that dogs and cats can get a little gassy, letting out pungent farts and then looking up with innocent eyes as if to ask, 'Was that me?' But have you ever thought about the vast variety of animals across the globe that also release gas—not just mammals? In the book *Does It Fart?*, ecologist Nick Caruso and zoologist Dani Rabaiotti dive into the flatulent habits (or absence thereof) of 80 different creatures. Here are seven fascinating facts about animal flatulence we discovered from the book.

1. FOR A CERTAIN FISH, PASSING GAS IS A MATTER OF SURVIVAL.

The Bolson pupfish, a freshwater species native to northern Mexico, can experience dangerously high levels of gas due to its diet. This fish feeds on algae and often consumes the gas bubbles released by the algae in warmer conditions. The air causes the pupfish’s intestines to inflate, distending its abdomen and throwing off its balance, making swimming difficult. Even if the pupfish tries to hide in the sediment at the bottom of a pool, as it often does, the trapped air forces it to float to the surface, where it faces the risk of being eaten by birds. If the fish doesn't release the gas, it will likely die—either from predation or by having its intestines rupture due to the pressure from the trapped air.

2. MANATEES USE FLATULENCE TO CONTROL THEIR SWIMMING DEPTH.

The Bolson pupfish isn’t the only aquatic creature that depends on flatulence for underwater movement. Buoyancy is crucial for swimming manatees, and they rely on digestive gas to help them float. West Indian manatees have specialized pouches in their intestines to store gas. When they accumulate gas, they become more buoyant and naturally rise to the surface of the water. When they release this gas, they sink. This means a manatee’s ability to pass gas is essential for its survival. If a manatee becomes constipated and can't release gas properly, it may lose its ability to swim correctly and end up floating with its tail above its head.

3. TERMITE FLATULENCE CONTRIBUTES TO A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF GLOBAL METHANE EMISSIONS.

Although not as impactful as cars or cows, termites release a large amount of methane, thanks to their vast numbers. Each termite produces just half a microgram of methane daily, but with millions of termites in a colony and termites living worldwide, it all adds up. In total, termites are responsible for between 5 and 19 percent of global methane emissions each year.

4. FERRETS ARE OFTEN TAKEN ABACK BY THEIR OWN FLATULENCE.

Ferrets are notorious for being gas-prone. They not only release gas while defecating—something they do every few hours—but they also tend to get especially gassy when they’re stressed. Interestingly, they seem just as surprised as anyone else when it happens. According to the book, “owners frequently notice a puzzled look on their pet’s face as it glances back at its rear after audibly passing gas.” And if your ferret gets extremely frightened, you’ll witness the bizarre combo of screaming, puffing up, and the simultaneous release of both gas and waste.

5. THE FARTS OF A BEADED LACEWING CAN BE LETHAL.

The beaded lacewing, a winged insect, possesses a deadly weapon hidden in its backside—what Caruso and Rabaiotti describe as “one of the very few genuinely lethal farts known to science.” The larvae of *Lomamyia latipennis* use this potent gas to hunt. They release a powerful fart that contains a chemical known as allomone, which paralyzes and kills termites, their prey of choice.

6. WHALE FLATULENCE MAKES A BIG IMPACT.

As expected from such massive creatures, whales release some of the largest farts in the animal kingdom. A blue whale’s digestive system can accommodate up to a ton of food within its many stomach chambers, and it's filled with bacteria that help break down this food. Naturally, this process results in flatulence. Though few whale farts have been caught on film, scientists have witnessed them and describe them as “exceptionally pungent,” as noted by Rabaiotti and Caruso.

7. NOT ALL ANIMALS HAVE FLATULENCE.

Octopuses don’t pass gas, nor do other marine creatures such as soft-shell clams or sea anemones. Birds also lack the ability to fart. Interestingly, sloths may be the only mammals that don’t fart, as indicated in the book (although the case for bat farts remains uncertain). For sloths, holding in gas is hazardous. When everything functions normally, the methane produced by their gut bacteria is absorbed into their bloodstream and later exhaled.

The woodlouse has a peculiar method of expelling gas, though it’s technically not considered flatulence. Rather than urinating, woodlice release ammonia through their exoskeletons, producing bursts of these full-body “farts” that can last up to an hour at a time.

You can grab *Does It Fart?* for $15 on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.