Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Crocodile Tears - They're Actually Bubbles
Since the 15th century, and probably before that, travelers have observed crocodiles, caymans and alligators weeping as they devoured their victims, and the phrase 'crocodile tears' has become a symbol of insincere grief.
Zoologist Kent Vliet has videotaped these three species while they are eating, and he concludes that they all blow air through their sinuses while they consume their prey, which mixes with moisture from their lacrimal glands and makes bubbles in their eye sockets.
Now you know. This factoid comes from National Wildlife, the magazine of the National Wildlife Foundation.
¶ 10:21 PM
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Insincere grief!? I know need to re-think one of my favorite songs of all time (Terrence Trent Darby's "Wishing Well"). 'A wishing well of crocodile tears...' the song goes....
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