Why Burrowing Desert Animals Don't Inhale Sand
By: EJazUlHaqBhat
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Why burrowing desert animals don't inhale sand - like humans would
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They have adaptations that keep sand out of their lungs while still allowing them to breathe
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There's plenty of air in the tiny spaces between grains of sand; the problem for sand-burrowing animals is how to get that air into their lungs while keeping the sand out
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Narrow nostrils help, but other clever adaptations are also needed. These include narrow nostrils, respiratory U-bends, and sticky mucous
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These adaptations help burrowing desert animals survive in sandy environments without choking on inhaled particles
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The Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard, for instance, is equipped with a respiratory U-bend that traps sand before it can reach the lungs
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The sandfish, a burrowing skink from North Africa and the Middle East, has a particularly wide section of respiratory tract
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This slows down the stream of inhaled air, allowing any sand particles to fall onto a layer of sticky mucous, which is then coughed up, keeping the lungs entirely sand-free
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