Are we the only ones? Why is this?
2007-02-03 14:04:07 · 8 answers · asked by martina_ie 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
All mammals produce tears to wash the eyes and expel foriegn objects such as dust.
Reptiles and amphibians also do this. Fish don't, though they do have a mucus membrane which serves a similiar function.
Insects as far as I know have a lens that they can shed so they do not need to wash out their eyes as damaged lenses can be replaced.
As for tears caused by emotion I can't say, animals though feel pain and (in the case of mammals, lose of offspring, which would be close to an emotion). Young animals do cry (through not with tears to express fear, pain, hunger etc. Human babies cry for attention in the same way another young mammal would.
2007-02-03 16:12:57 · answer #1 · answered by Tim C 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no other animal on earth cries as we do, and very few has eyelids. However, animals do produce tears. Tear production is called lachrimation. This functions in healthy eyes.
Tears are produced in mammals by the lachrymal system, tissues which make water. Tears serve to clean the cornea and keep it moist. When a speck of dirt, for example, is lodged in the eye, more tears are produced in order to wash away the irritant.
The fluid in tears is rich in nutrients and has anti-bacterial properties which help to fight infections. The salt in tears helps to create an osmotic balance within the eye.
In animals, it is virtually impossible to tell if their tears are the result of emotions or merely caused by eye irritation.
And also the crocodile seems to cry occasionally but its simply removing salt through special ducts.
2007-02-03 14:14:12 · answer #2 · answered by aquaticneko 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Generally, animals only shed tears if there is an irritant in their eyes. Other than that, only humans and some great apes are recorded to have the ability to cry on emotional bases.
2016-03-29 03:50:24 · answer #3 · answered by Mary 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cows Cry
The Farmer in the field next to me took the calfs away and one of them stared into the window of our house for over an hour crying
maybe wondering why our kind had took her calfs
You need more than wikipedia to understand animals, you need to live with and close to them
2007-02-03 14:31:22 · answer #4 · answered by Northern Spriggan 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think female turtles...u can see their tears sometimes especially after laying their eggs...this is to get rid of the sand in their eyes
2007-02-03 14:11:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no watch the film the wepping cammel its so sad when it starts to cry
2007-02-04 01:08:04 · answer #6 · answered by dottydog 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I once grabbed a naughty chimp by its balls. It cried, for sure!
I hope that information helps!
2007-02-03 14:57:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm no animal
2007-02-03 14:13:48 · answer #8 · answered by . 6 · 0⤊ 6⤋