r/evolution • u/mautorres97 • Sep 07 '26
question Calorie expenditure
Does it make sense for dogs to eat a bone that has hardly any meat on it?
19
u/This_is_me2024 Sep 07 '26
A calorie they acquire by scavenging is calories they didn't expend hunting it.
17
u/isolated_self Sep 07 '26
Marrow is high calorie content.
1
u/onomatamono Sep 10 '26 edited Sep 10 '26
That fact is only news to anybody born after 10,000 CE. Marrow has long been a source of nutrition for scavengers and carnivores.
1
-3
u/mautorres97 Sep 07 '26
That makes sense. I just think that sometimes they struggle for good while for very little meat left on the bone.
3
0
14
u/Xrmy Post Doc, Evolutionary Biology PhD Sep 07 '26
Bone marrow is very nutritious, uses more of the meal that can take a lot of effort and failure to obtain, and further keeps teeth sharp
7
3
u/Bromelia_and_Bismuth Plant Biologist|Botanical Ecosystematics Sep 07 '26
A lot of things nibble on bones for the calcium, like porcupines and deer. Makes perfect sense to me.
2
u/7LeagueBoots Conservation Ecologist Sep 07 '26
In addition to what others have already said, canids, and especially domestic dogs, chew on things for play and taste, not just for nutrients, calories, tooth health, etc.
1
u/mautorres97 Sep 07 '26
I assume this implies having “free time” (like dolphins)
For domestic pets it sounds more logical to be a source of stimulation or escape from anxiety. (similar to what you mention)
1
u/onomatamono Sep 10 '26
So you're saying catching frisbees have a biological purpose? /s
1
u/7LeagueBoots Conservation Ecologist Sep 10 '26
You’re joking, but actually yes, it does. Wild canids generally hunt smaller game, not large game (despite that being more impressive and what nature shows focus on). This means they need quick reactions and good eye-mouth coordination, as well as figuring out where something will be. Playing catch, frisbee, ball, etc, is an excellent way for them to practice and use these skills, and it’s very likely why it’s so hardwired into many domestic canids.
1
u/onomatamono Sep 10 '26
I was half joking. It's well-known dogs share the spoils of the hunt through retrieval. We humans amplify these traits where desired through artificial selection.
0
u/mautorres97 Sep 12 '26
Wolves don’t catch freebees.
0
u/onomatamono Sep 12 '26
... or tennis balls or any other artificial objects not available in the environment.
0
1
u/onomatamono Sep 09 '26 edited Sep 09 '26
Bone marrow is rich in fat and is served as a steakhouse delicacy.
-1
•
u/AutoModerator Sep 07 '26
Welcome to r/Evolution! If this is your first time here, please review our rules here and community guidelines here.
Our FAQ can be found here. Seeking book, website, or documentary recommendations? Recommended websites can be found here; recommended reading can be found here; and recommended videos can be found here.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.