Spitting is a defense mechanism that allows animals to expel saliva, venom, or other substances from their mouth as a form of attack or deterrent. However, not all animals have the physical ability to spit. If you’re wondering which animals can’t spit, you’ve come to the right place.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Most mammals, aside from camels, llamas, and alpacas, are unable to spit. This includes pets like dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and more. Many birds also can’t spit, along with the majority of reptiles and amphibians.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the fascinating reasons why certain animals lack this ability, looking at their anatomy and evolutionary adaptations. We’ll also highlight some interesting exceptions to the rule and animals with spit-like abilities that may surprise you.
An Overview of Spitting in the Animal Kingdom
Spitting is an ability seen in various animal species, though not all creatures possess this skill. The act of spitting serves key functions for survival and defense in the animal world. Understanding the biology behind spitting and why certain animals can or cannot spit is an intriguing area to explore for nature enthusiasts.
How Spitting Works in Animals
Animals that spit have modified salivary glands enabling them to store and project saliva purposefully over long distances. Muscles in these specialized glands contract forcefully to shoot out saliva from the mouth towards predators or prey (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-do-spitting-cobra/).
This works on the principle of water pistols or spray bottles used by humans.
The chemical composition of spit varies by species. Spitting cobras can spray venom as far as 9 feet. The saliva of spitting spiders contains painful venom. Alpacas and llamas regurgitate stomach contents when spitting as a form of protest.
Defense and Offense Purposes
When threatened, spitting animals weaponize their spit to ward off or disable attackers. Blinding or curbing vision temporarily offers a window to escape danger. Spitting also slows down or surprises predators giving the animal more response time (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spitting_spider).
Plus, fouling predators’ mouths/nose with irritants reduces chances of getting eaten!
Spiders and reptiles also spit as a hunting technique to capture prey like insects. Their efficiency at spitting improves their odds of scoring a meal! No question – spitting rocks both as offense and defense! 👍
Evolutionary Adaptations
The spitting ability evolved distinctly in various creatures as an adaptation for endurance and reproductive success. Smaller animals especially gain an upper hand against larger predators or competitors by having a nifty spit weapon. The evolutionary arms race continues…
Conversely, some members of spitting species populations demonstrate variation without spitting skills. Giraffes can gain nothing from spitting their cud from 6 feet up! 😄 And you will never see a Llama who excels at keeping their cool.
Ultimately, spitting as an adapted trait confers situational advantages subject to an animal’s lifestyle and ecological pressures.
Mammals That Cannot Spit
Dogs
Dogs are unable to spit due to the structure of their mouths and throats. Their mouths produce little saliva compared to humans, and their salivary glands are located below their tongues, which makes it physically impossible for them to gather saliva in their mouths and spit it out.
Interestingly, some dog breeds like the Chinese Shar-Pei have loose jowls and wrinkled faces that give them the appearance of “spitting” saliva when they rapidly shake their heads. However, this is simply droplets of saliva being flung from their mouth folds rather than an actual spitting action.
Cats
Like dogs, domestic cats are physically unable to spit. Their salivary glands are positioned under their tongues, making it impossible for cats to gather saliva in their mouth and eject it forcefully.
Cats also groom themselves frequently, swallowing any extra saliva or fur in their mouth instead of spitting it out. The only time cats may appear to “spit” is when they have a hairball that they need to cough up.
Rodents
Most rodents like hamsters, mice, rats, and guinea pigs are incapable of spitting. Their salivary glands are located at the bottom of their mouth, and their oral anatomy simply does not allow them to gather and spit out saliva.
An exception is camels, who actually do spit when threatened or annoyed. Camels have a special sac in their throat called the dulaa that can hold up to a gallon of saliva. They are able to project this saliva out of their mouth up to 6 feet away with a forceful contraction of the muscles of their throat.
Primates
Most primates are physically unable to spit. Saliva production in primates is much lower compared to humans, and their salivary glands are positioned under the tongue, making spitting impossible.
However, some monkeys like the howler monkey are capable of a rudimentary form of spitting. When howler monkeys vocalize, they can forcefully eject a spray of saliva from their throats up to 5 feet away. This is thought to be a territorial display rather than a directed spitting action.
Bird Species Without Spitting Abilities
Songbirds
The vast majority of songbirds, such as finches, warblers, and sparrows, lack the ability to spit or regurgitate as a defense mechanism. Their small size and vulnerable nesting habits make them easy targets for predators, so they must rely on camouflage, speed, and flight to stay safe.
While other birds can spit up seeds or noxious oils when threatened, songbirds simply lack the physical adaptations to do so. Their digestive systems are designed for efficient energy intake and rapid food processing, not weaponizing their last meals.
However, some songbirds like mockingbirds have evolved the ability to mimic predator calls to scare off potential threats. Overall though, most songbirds are defenseless against direct attacks and must stick to hiding and evasion tactics.
Birds of Prey
Powerful birds of prey like eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls also do not have any spitting or regurgitation abilities. Their formidable talons and sharp beaks are their primary weapons. Eagles can exert over 400 psi of pressure with their vice-like grips, easily crushing prey.
The bony protuberance on a hawk’s beak called a tomial tooth is specifically evolved for severing prey’s vertebrae with a precision bite. The speed and aerial agility of falcons and stealth ambush hunting of owls make them lethal hunters.
So for raptors, their impressive physical attributes and finely tuned killing instincts take priority over any spitting defenses. In fact, expelling hard-won fresh prey via spitting would be counterproductive when they need to maximize calorie intake for their high-energy lifestyles.
Although they can’t spit up food, birds of prey can still regurgitate indigestible fur, bones, and feathers in the form of compact pellets.
Waterfowl
Most waterfowl like ducks, geese, and swans also lack any substantial spitting abilities. Their webbed feet and waterproof feathers make them nimble swimmers able to escape many aquatic predators. Male ducks do regurgitate small amounts of food during courtship displays, likely showing off their foraging ability to impress potential mates.
Additionally, geese may spit up small bits of grass when grazed by livestock or confronted by threats on land. But in general, waterfowl do not have the muscles or physiology to eject stomach contents with any force or volume.
The one exception is the Fulvous Whistling Duck, which has specialized throat muscles and a distensible esophagus allowing it to spit up water it swallows while feeding. This might help it consume more food by expelling excess water quickly.
Beyond that one species however, most waterfowl rely on vigilance, flocking behavior, or concealment in water plants to stay safe.
Reptiles and Amphibians That Don’t Spit
Snakes
The majority of snakes do not have the physical capability to spit or propel venom. Over 3,400 species of snakes exist worldwide, with only a small percentage able to eject venom as a defense mechanism.
The cobra family contains some of the most infamous spitting snakes, like the black-necked spitting cobra native to Africa and the rinkhals or ring-necked spitting cobra found in Namibia and South Africa.
Non-spitting snakes from the colubrid and python families rely on venom delivery through fangs during a bite. Examples include garter snakes, corn snakes, boa constrictors, and anacondas. While spitting seems like an impressive talent, most snakes get by just fine without this questionable skill.
Turtles and Tortoises
As reptiles characterized by protective shells, turtles and tortoises also lack the physical structures for spitting. There are over 300 species of turtles and tortoises, none of which spit as a defense.
Aquatic turtles may hiss or snap as warnings, while land-dwelling tortoises may retreat into their shells or attempt to bite when threatened. But you won’t see a turtle rearing back and projecting saliva or venom – their rigid beaks prevent such a motion.
From giant Galapagos tortoises to tiny box turtles, spit-free living is the norm. Their toothless mouths and protective shells likely make spitting an unnecessary adaptation. While some small semi-aquatic turtles like mud turtles can emit a bad-smelling musk from glands as a defense, this is not the same as spitting.
Frogs and Toads
The world contains over 7,000 frog and toad species, almost none of which spit or eject venom. Frogs and toads use their sticky tongues to catch food, not to propel spit. While poison dart frogs secrete toxins through their skin, they do not spit these toxins.
Only the rare Asiatic or crab-eating frogs belonging to the genus Limnonectes are able to spit venom from glands in their skin as a defense. Less than a dozen of the 700 frog species in this genus have this unusual talent.
Other frogs and toads may inflate themselves, secrete noxious fluids from glands, or flash bright colors to warn predators – but they keep the spit to themselves. From the huge goliath frog to the tiny tree frogs found worldwide, nearly all amphibians have opted out of spitting.
Unusual Exceptions: Spitting Mammals
Camels
When feeling threatened or angry, camels spit as a defense mechanism. A camel’s spit is quite viscous and can travel up to 6 feet towards the face of the perceived enemy (National Geographic). Most camel owners are familiar with this smelly surprise! 😨 Some key facts about camel spit:
- Their spit is green and very smelly – it’s composed of partially digested food mixed with stomach acids.
- Spitting seems to be most common in male one-humped dromedary camels.
- Camels tend to spit when they feel frightened, stressed or are establishing dominance.
- Getting spit on is harmless to humans, but the putrid smell is tough to wash off quickly.
So in the spitting mammal world, camels are true long distance champions! 🏆
Llama and Alpacas
Llama and alpacas spit too, but their saliva isn’t nearly as odiferous as camel spit. When aggravated, these animals will make a spitting sound, followed by spraying green stomach contents out of their mouths (Alpaca World Magazine). Key facts around llama and alpaca spit include:
- Spitting often occurs between males fighting for dominance in a herd.
- Their spit doesn’t travel as far as a camel’s – usually only a foot or two.
- Getting spit on is harmless to people, but can stain clothing green momentarily.
So while stinky and unpleasant, alpaca and llama spit seems far less intense than what camels dish out! 😅
Spitting Cobras
Spitting cobras can spray venom as a defense mechanism, with an effective spray distance of up to 8 feet (San Diego Zoo). If venom lands in the eyes of an enemy, it can cause serious damage and even blindness. Some key facts around spitting cobras:
- Spitting cobras have excellent aim and can spray for long distances with surprising accuracy.
- Their venom contains nerve toxins and cytotoxins which can destroy tissue.
- If venom gets in the eyes, it causes severe burning, swelling and can lead to permanent blindness.
So in the spitting world, spitting cobras seem to be the most vicious with their painful venom spray! 😱Their specialized self-defense adaptation allows them to incapacitate enemies from a safer distance.
Conclusion
While the majority of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians are unable to spit, evolution has conferred this unusual ability to certain species for defense or competition. However, the physical traits required limits this adaptation to a select few animals.
We hope this guide gave you a comprehensive overview of which common animals can’t spit. Learning about their anatomical limitations and evolutionary journeys helps us understand and appreciate the amazing diversity of species on our planet.
