2007-02-01 19:24:38 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
There are many mammals that are able to survive although they never drink free-standing (or running) water. Almost all mammals that are able to do this are small (less than 100gm) desert dwelling mammals. While they do not drink water they do need it to survive, instead of drinking water they obtain all there water from their food. For granivorous mammals (which most small mammals in the USA are) they obtain enough water from the seeds that they eat (they may look like dry seeds but plants actually put a lot of moisture into their seeds in order to give them the best chance of survival. For insectivorous mammals (which many of the small marsupials that live in Australia are) they gain enough water from the insects that they eat. If you have every squashed a bug or a beetle you will know that they are quite juicy!
That said, many of these animals will drink free-standing water if it is offered to them (i.e. in captivity), however they are capable of surviving their whole lives without drinking.
If you would like a specific example of one of these animals:
The Fat-tailed Dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata) is a small (10 - 20g) Australian marsupial (it has a pouch) that eats insects and does not require free water to live.
2007-02-01 19:31:31 · answer #1 · answered by Michael Dino C 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Mamal? Is that the surname of a thirsty man of middle-eastern descent?
Let me know his contact details and I'll send him a bottle of pop.
2007-02-02 03:36:13 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Gerbils don't drink, that's why they make very good pets - you don't have to bother with water bottles and they don't wee much either, so don't need cleaning out very often. I had gerbils when I was young and they were great. My son had a hamster and he needed constant nagging to get him to clean out the cage, usually after it became very smelly!
2007-02-02 15:56:57 · answer #3 · answered by Billy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Desert Rat...bet he's fun in a pub when it's his turn to buy a round!!
2007-02-02 03:58:31 · answer #4 · answered by Alf B 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
While the kangaroo has been known to take a few pints, the camel is a teetotaller.
2007-02-02 03:32:52 · answer #5 · answered by mini metro 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think you mean camel. but it does drink it can just go for a long time without water as it can store it.
2007-02-02 16:01:32 · answer #6 · answered by Emilee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mircats get their water from their food. All mammals though, during heat waves, have to drink sometimes. when their needs are not fulfilled by their food.
2007-02-02 09:55:30 · answer #7 · answered by Skippy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
everything drinks, camels need lots of water but they can make it for about 2 wks with minimal water by surviving on the fat in their humps.
2007-02-02 03:32:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Desert mole!!
2007-02-02 04:14:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
a desert rat
2007-02-02 04:42:46 · answer #10 · answered by ufo18 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋