Gastrolith

Have you ever heard of the word "gastrolith"? It's a big word that is used to describe a peculiar type of rock.

Some animals like dinosaurs and birds have very tough and strong stomachs that can crush and grind up the food they eat into smaller pieces. They do this using these special kind of rocks that they swallow and keep inside their bellies. These are called gastroliths.

Gastroliths are basically small, smooth stones that are swallowed by animals, usually when they are hungry and need to eat. These stones then stay inside their stomachs, where they help to break down food into tiny pieces, making it easier to digest.

Some animals, like birds, actually go looking for gastroliths on the ground because they instinctively know they need them to grind up their food. They'll often swallow hundreds of these small rocks and keep them in their stomachs for a long time.

So, the next time you see a big rock, just remember that to some animals, it's not just a rock, it's a valuable tool that helps them to digest their food!