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Swan eats fish eggs, poops them out. Then, they hatch

The research - which may make some raise a questioning eyebrow - was actually conducted to see how killfish manages to endure different kinds of environment.

Updated on: Jun 26, 2019, 12:16:33 IST
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A group of scientists, recently, conducted a study that involves swans, their poop and fish eggs. As part of the study, a group of swans were given killfish eggs to eat which they eventually pooped out. Surprisingly, however, some of those eggs still managed to hatch.

The hatching of one such egg was captured on camera. (Twitter/@moncur_d)
The hatching of one such egg was captured on camera. (Twitter/@moncur_d)

The research - which may make some raise a questioning eyebrow - was actually conducted to see how killfish manages to endure different kinds of environment, reports the New York Post.

The study is titled ‘Killifish eggs can disperse via gut passage through waterfowl’. Through the study, researchers found that killfish eggs can, in rare cases, survive even after enduring a journey through the digestive tracts of the swans and hatch after being excreted out.

The hatching of one such egg was captured on camera and shared on YouTube by the researchers.

The news made its way on Twitter and left people intrigued.

“Well, here’s one way to distribute your offspring,” posted a Twitter user. “Talk about amazing animal stories! This one is unbelievable,” tweeted another. “#SixWordHorrorStory Passed through swan’s gut, then hatched,” joked a third.

The findings of the study also point to the prospect that it is possible for bird faeces to be carriers of fish eggs, reports the New York Post.

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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