Fresh secret of penguin dads revealed : Antibiotic produced in Stomach?

19:00 19 February 03

Exclusive from New Scientist Print Edition

Male king penguins store undigested food in their stomachs for up to three weeks. The talent is unique among higher vertebrates and ensures a constant supply of food for their chicks. But how they do it was a mystery.

Now an analysis of the birds' stomach contents shows the penguins keep food fresh by destroying bacteria in their stomachs, suggesting that they produce an antibacterial agent in their digestive tracts.

The penguins could be suppressing the bacteria with acrylic acid, an antibacterial compound from phytoplankton, which is in turn found in the stomachs of the penguins' prey. But the birds appear to be able to switch on the preservation process, suggesting that they actively release one or more bactericidal agents.

Journal reference: Polar Biology (vol 26, p 115)

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