Reply To: Why do Crocodiles shed tears?

#71074

Diana chloe
Member
Rank: Gallant Sojourner

The allusion is to the ancient notion that crocodiles weep while devouring their prey. It has been known for centuries that crocodiles weep while eating. They have tear glands just like most other animals. And zoologists have recorded alligators, close relatives of crocodiles, shedding tears while they’re eating. This parallel may be significant—rather than being an emotional response, the shedding of tears probably happens because of the way crocodiles and alligators eat: when eating their prey they will often huff and hiss as they blow out air, and their tear glands may empty at the same time the production of so many tears is the result of the hisses and huffs the animals make while devouring their prey. This feeding behavior forces air through the sinuses and stimulates the lacrimal gland to produce excessive tears. Some of the air escaping also produces the frothing and bubbling