Osteophagy is the practice whereby herbivores consume bones. This practice usually occurs place in a nutrient-deficient environment. The animals consume the bones in order to obtain such necessary elements as phosphorus and calcium.
- An example of animals exhibiting this practice are giraffes, who in Africa are known to seek out elephant graveyards in order to consume their bones.
See also
References
- Campbell, Biology, 7th ed. (Benjamin-Cummings, New York, NY 2006) ISBN 0-471-52229-5
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