Gastric acid as a weapon Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara Planned maintenance scheduled April 17/18, 2019 at 00:00UTC (8:00pm US/Eastern) The network's official Twitter account is up and running again. What content…Biological adaptations necessary for weaponized (or otherwise made useful) refluxEvolution of a creature that uses light as a weaponCan hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes cause a fire?Taking all the blood of a dozen humans and putting it into acid – could I create a wolf?Life giving hydrochloric acid (HCl)?What is the deadliest acid a hypothetical biological creature could utilize as a weapon?Acid spraying dragon (of death)!How could an acid-cow make a barrier against acidic milk by synthesizing PTFE, and what would it line?Octopus ink contains micro parasites that act as acidCould a species evolve a defensive ability to excrete a super acid?biologic liquid weapon
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Gastric acid as a weapon
Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara
Planned maintenance scheduled April 17/18, 2019 at 00:00UTC (8:00pm US/Eastern)
The network's official Twitter account is up and running again. What content…Biological adaptations necessary for weaponized (or otherwise made useful) refluxEvolution of a creature that uses light as a weaponCan hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes cause a fire?Taking all the blood of a dozen humans and putting it into acid – could I create a wolf?Life giving hydrochloric acid (HCl)?What is the deadliest acid a hypothetical biological creature could utilize as a weapon?Acid spraying dragon (of death)!How could an acid-cow make a barrier against acidic milk by synthesizing PTFE, and what would it line?Octopus ink contains micro parasites that act as acidCould a species evolve a defensive ability to excrete a super acid?biologic liquid weapon
$begingroup$
The dragons in my fantasy world spit fluid from their mouths when threatened, which upon contact causes a burning sensation. I could have this liquid be standard venom, like modified saliva, but I wanted to shake things up a bit.
Could powerful stomach acid be spat as a means of defense and/or attack? My main concern is that it would be either too inefficient or too evolutionarily unlikely that another method of defense would be much more plausible to evolve.
I'm not aware of any duplicates to this question, apologies if I've missed one.
science-based creature-design evolution dragons natural-defenses
asked 4 hours ago
SealBoiSealBoi
6,97612570
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The dragons in my fantasy world spit fluid from their mouths when threatened, which upon contact causes a burning sensation. I could have this liquid be standard venom, like modified saliva, but I wanted to shake things up a bit.
Could powerful stomach acid be spat as a means of defense and/or attack? My main concern is that it would be either too inefficient or too evolutionarily unlikely that another method of defense would be much more plausible to evolve.
I'm not aware of any duplicates to this question, apologies if I've missed one.
science-based creature-design evolution dragons natural-defenses
asked 4 hours ago
SealBoiSealBoi
6,97612570
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
I see you're sneaking in three extra questions there ... best practice is to ask one focused question in order to get one good answer. You can always ask follow up questions. But you knew that already! Please edit accordingly.
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@elemtilas Fair enough. Question edited.
$endgroup$
– SealBoi
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Great! Question answered!
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Related (but not a dupe): worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/q/115804/21222
$endgroup$
– Renan
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
As another alternative, consider the Bombardier Beetle: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_beetle
$endgroup$
– Arkenstein XII
29 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The dragons in my fantasy world spit fluid from their mouths when threatened, which upon contact causes a burning sensation. I could have this liquid be standard venom, like modified saliva, but I wanted to shake things up a bit.
Could powerful stomach acid be spat as a means of defense and/or attack? My main concern is that it would be either too inefficient or too evolutionarily unlikely that another method of defense would be much more plausible to evolve.
I'm not aware of any duplicates to this question, apologies if I've missed one.
science-based creature-design evolution dragons natural-defenses
asked 4 hours ago
SealBoiSealBoi
6,97612570
$endgroup$
The dragons in my fantasy world spit fluid from their mouths when threatened, which upon contact causes a burning sensation. I could have this liquid be standard venom, like modified saliva, but I wanted to shake things up a bit.
Could powerful stomach acid be spat as a means of defense and/or attack? My main concern is that it would be either too inefficient or too evolutionarily unlikely that another method of defense would be much more plausible to evolve.
I'm not aware of any duplicates to this question, apologies if I've missed one.
science-based creature-design evolution dragons natural-defenses
science-based creature-design evolution dragons natural-defenses
asked 4 hours ago
SealBoiSealBoi
6,97612570
asked 4 hours ago
SealBoiSealBoi
6,97612570
edited 3 hours ago
SealBoi
asked 4 hours ago
SealBoiSealBoi
6,97612570
asked 4 hours ago
SealBoiSealBoi
6,97612570
asked 4 hours ago
SealBoiSealBoi
6,97612570
6,97612570
$begingroup$
I see you're sneaking in three extra questions there ... best practice is to ask one focused question in order to get one good answer. You can always ask follow up questions. But you knew that already! Please edit accordingly.
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@elemtilas Fair enough. Question edited.
$endgroup$
– SealBoi
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Great! Question answered!
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Related (but not a dupe): worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/q/115804/21222
$endgroup$
– Renan
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
As another alternative, consider the Bombardier Beetle: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_beetle
$endgroup$
– Arkenstein XII
29 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I see you're sneaking in three extra questions there ... best practice is to ask one focused question in order to get one good answer. You can always ask follow up questions. But you knew that already! Please edit accordingly.
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@elemtilas Fair enough. Question edited.
$endgroup$
– SealBoi
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Great! Question answered!
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Related (but not a dupe): worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/q/115804/21222
$endgroup$
– Renan
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
As another alternative, consider the Bombardier Beetle: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_beetle
$endgroup$
– Arkenstein XII
29 mins ago
$begingroup$
I see you're sneaking in three extra questions there ... best practice is to ask one focused question in order to get one good answer. You can always ask follow up questions. But you knew that already! Please edit accordingly.
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
I see you're sneaking in three extra questions there ... best practice is to ask one focused question in order to get one good answer. You can always ask follow up questions. But you knew that already! Please edit accordingly.
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@elemtilas Fair enough. Question edited.
$endgroup$
– SealBoi
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@elemtilas Fair enough. Question edited.
$endgroup$
– SealBoi
3 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Great! Question answered!
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Great! Question answered!
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Related (but not a dupe): worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/q/115804/21222
$endgroup$
– Renan
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Related (but not a dupe): worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/q/115804/21222
$endgroup$
– Renan
3 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
As another alternative, consider the Bombardier Beetle: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_beetle
$endgroup$
– Arkenstein XII
29 mins ago
$begingroup$
As another alternative, consider the Bombardier Beetle: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_beetle
$endgroup$
– Arkenstein XII
29 mins ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
YES
Gastric acid (HCl) can be used as a means of defense or attack. Acid weapons are known in nature. Ants spray formic acid, for example. Some birds, vutlures for example, vomit as means of defense. A number of creatures evert their stomachs in order to clear out yucky things they've eaten.
In the literature, we find this example of gastric acid magic.
Yum. So yes, your dragons could certainly do this as well. If they're large beasts, the effects will probably be quite astonishing.
answered 3 hours ago
elemtilaselemtilas
15k23364
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Additionally, depending on the diet of the dragon, the acid may have to be more corrosive in order to digest exotic items. This makes sense in an evolutionary perspective.
$endgroup$
– Mathaddict
3 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Mathaddict Indeed! If you look into vultures as a real world exemplar upon which to model the dragon's behaviour, their gastric acid is terribly acidic compared with humans'.
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
3 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
Love those "Would this crazy outlandish thing be possible somehow?" "Yes, it already exists in nature."
$endgroup$
– Eth
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Could powerful stomach acid be spat as a means of defense and/or attack?
YES but...
The stomach of any organism using acid as digestive liquid is protected against the action of said acid by a thick layer of mucus. The esophagus doesn't have the luxury of this layer, and is thus much more vulnerable to the action of the acid. In fact humans can get esophagus perforation in such cases.
So, if you want your dragon to throw up acid, you need to coat its esophagus with a thick layer of mucus.
However... attacking after lunch would mean emptying one's stomach, which would result in a energetic loss. It is reasonable as a mean of "better hungry and alive than full and dead" for a lesser animal, but for a might dragon might be a bit against the rule of cool.
Better would be to have your dragon develop some pockets where acid can be stored and used at necessity, without the need to throw away a well deserved meal.
answered 3 hours ago
L.Dutch♦L.Dutch
91.7k29212440
$endgroup$
add a comment |
Your Answer
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
YES
Gastric acid (HCl) can be used as a means of defense or attack. Acid weapons are known in nature. Ants spray formic acid, for example. Some birds, vutlures for example, vomit as means of defense. A number of creatures evert their stomachs in order to clear out yucky things they've eaten.
In the literature, we find this example of gastric acid magic.
Yum. So yes, your dragons could certainly do this as well. If they're large beasts, the effects will probably be quite astonishing.
answered 3 hours ago
elemtilaselemtilas
15k23364
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Additionally, depending on the diet of the dragon, the acid may have to be more corrosive in order to digest exotic items. This makes sense in an evolutionary perspective.
$endgroup$
– Mathaddict
3 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Mathaddict Indeed! If you look into vultures as a real world exemplar upon which to model the dragon's behaviour, their gastric acid is terribly acidic compared with humans'.
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
3 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
Love those "Would this crazy outlandish thing be possible somehow?" "Yes, it already exists in nature."
$endgroup$
– Eth
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
YES
Gastric acid (HCl) can be used as a means of defense or attack. Acid weapons are known in nature. Ants spray formic acid, for example. Some birds, vutlures for example, vomit as means of defense. A number of creatures evert their stomachs in order to clear out yucky things they've eaten.
In the literature, we find this example of gastric acid magic.
Yum. So yes, your dragons could certainly do this as well. If they're large beasts, the effects will probably be quite astonishing.
answered 3 hours ago
elemtilaselemtilas
15k23364
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Additionally, depending on the diet of the dragon, the acid may have to be more corrosive in order to digest exotic items. This makes sense in an evolutionary perspective.
$endgroup$
– Mathaddict
3 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Mathaddict Indeed! If you look into vultures as a real world exemplar upon which to model the dragon's behaviour, their gastric acid is terribly acidic compared with humans'.
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
3 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
Love those "Would this crazy outlandish thing be possible somehow?" "Yes, it already exists in nature."
$endgroup$
– Eth
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
YES
Gastric acid (HCl) can be used as a means of defense or attack. Acid weapons are known in nature. Ants spray formic acid, for example. Some birds, vutlures for example, vomit as means of defense. A number of creatures evert their stomachs in order to clear out yucky things they've eaten.
In the literature, we find this example of gastric acid magic.
Yum. So yes, your dragons could certainly do this as well. If they're large beasts, the effects will probably be quite astonishing.
answered 3 hours ago
elemtilaselemtilas
15k23364
$endgroup$
YES
Gastric acid (HCl) can be used as a means of defense or attack. Acid weapons are known in nature. Ants spray formic acid, for example. Some birds, vutlures for example, vomit as means of defense. A number of creatures evert their stomachs in order to clear out yucky things they've eaten.
In the literature, we find this example of gastric acid magic.
Yum. So yes, your dragons could certainly do this as well. If they're large beasts, the effects will probably be quite astonishing.
answered 3 hours ago
elemtilaselemtilas
15k23364
answered 3 hours ago
elemtilaselemtilas
15k23364
answered 3 hours ago
elemtilaselemtilas
15k23364
answered 3 hours ago
elemtilaselemtilas
15k23364
15k23364
1
$begingroup$
Additionally, depending on the diet of the dragon, the acid may have to be more corrosive in order to digest exotic items. This makes sense in an evolutionary perspective.
$endgroup$
– Mathaddict
3 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Mathaddict Indeed! If you look into vultures as a real world exemplar upon which to model the dragon's behaviour, their gastric acid is terribly acidic compared with humans'.
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
3 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
Love those "Would this crazy outlandish thing be possible somehow?" "Yes, it already exists in nature."
$endgroup$
– Eth
3 hours ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
Additionally, depending on the diet of the dragon, the acid may have to be more corrosive in order to digest exotic items. This makes sense in an evolutionary perspective.
$endgroup$
– Mathaddict
3 hours ago
2
$begingroup$
@Mathaddict Indeed! If you look into vultures as a real world exemplar upon which to model the dragon's behaviour, their gastric acid is terribly acidic compared with humans'.
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
3 hours ago
3
$begingroup$
Love those "Would this crazy outlandish thing be possible somehow?" "Yes, it already exists in nature."
$endgroup$
– Eth
3 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Additionally, depending on the diet of the dragon, the acid may have to be more corrosive in order to digest exotic items. This makes sense in an evolutionary perspective.
$endgroup$
– Mathaddict
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Additionally, depending on the diet of the dragon, the acid may have to be more corrosive in order to digest exotic items. This makes sense in an evolutionary perspective.
$endgroup$
– Mathaddict
3 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
@Mathaddict Indeed! If you look into vultures as a real world exemplar upon which to model the dragon's behaviour, their gastric acid is terribly acidic compared with humans'.
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
@Mathaddict Indeed! If you look into vultures as a real world exemplar upon which to model the dragon's behaviour, their gastric acid is terribly acidic compared with humans'.
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
3 hours ago
3
3
$begingroup$
Love those "Would this crazy outlandish thing be possible somehow?" "Yes, it already exists in nature."
$endgroup$
– Eth
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Love those "Would this crazy outlandish thing be possible somehow?" "Yes, it already exists in nature."
$endgroup$
– Eth
3 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Could powerful stomach acid be spat as a means of defense and/or attack?
YES but...
The stomach of any organism using acid as digestive liquid is protected against the action of said acid by a thick layer of mucus. The esophagus doesn't have the luxury of this layer, and is thus much more vulnerable to the action of the acid. In fact humans can get esophagus perforation in such cases.
So, if you want your dragon to throw up acid, you need to coat its esophagus with a thick layer of mucus.
However... attacking after lunch would mean emptying one's stomach, which would result in a energetic loss. It is reasonable as a mean of "better hungry and alive than full and dead" for a lesser animal, but for a might dragon might be a bit against the rule of cool.
Better would be to have your dragon develop some pockets where acid can be stored and used at necessity, without the need to throw away a well deserved meal.
answered 3 hours ago
L.Dutch♦L.Dutch
91.7k29212440
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Could powerful stomach acid be spat as a means of defense and/or attack?
YES but...
The stomach of any organism using acid as digestive liquid is protected against the action of said acid by a thick layer of mucus. The esophagus doesn't have the luxury of this layer, and is thus much more vulnerable to the action of the acid. In fact humans can get esophagus perforation in such cases.
So, if you want your dragon to throw up acid, you need to coat its esophagus with a thick layer of mucus.
However... attacking after lunch would mean emptying one's stomach, which would result in a energetic loss. It is reasonable as a mean of "better hungry and alive than full and dead" for a lesser animal, but for a might dragon might be a bit against the rule of cool.
Better would be to have your dragon develop some pockets where acid can be stored and used at necessity, without the need to throw away a well deserved meal.
answered 3 hours ago
L.Dutch♦L.Dutch
91.7k29212440
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Could powerful stomach acid be spat as a means of defense and/or attack?
YES but...
The stomach of any organism using acid as digestive liquid is protected against the action of said acid by a thick layer of mucus. The esophagus doesn't have the luxury of this layer, and is thus much more vulnerable to the action of the acid. In fact humans can get esophagus perforation in such cases.
So, if you want your dragon to throw up acid, you need to coat its esophagus with a thick layer of mucus.
However... attacking after lunch would mean emptying one's stomach, which would result in a energetic loss. It is reasonable as a mean of "better hungry and alive than full and dead" for a lesser animal, but for a might dragon might be a bit against the rule of cool.
Better would be to have your dragon develop some pockets where acid can be stored and used at necessity, without the need to throw away a well deserved meal.
answered 3 hours ago
L.Dutch♦L.Dutch
91.7k29212440
$endgroup$
Could powerful stomach acid be spat as a means of defense and/or attack?
YES but...
The stomach of any organism using acid as digestive liquid is protected against the action of said acid by a thick layer of mucus. The esophagus doesn't have the luxury of this layer, and is thus much more vulnerable to the action of the acid. In fact humans can get esophagus perforation in such cases.
So, if you want your dragon to throw up acid, you need to coat its esophagus with a thick layer of mucus.
However... attacking after lunch would mean emptying one's stomach, which would result in a energetic loss. It is reasonable as a mean of "better hungry and alive than full and dead" for a lesser animal, but for a might dragon might be a bit against the rule of cool.
Better would be to have your dragon develop some pockets where acid can be stored and used at necessity, without the need to throw away a well deserved meal.
answered 3 hours ago
L.Dutch♦L.Dutch
91.7k29212440
answered 3 hours ago
L.Dutch♦L.Dutch
91.7k29212440
answered 3 hours ago
L.Dutch♦L.Dutch
91.7k29212440
answered 3 hours ago
L.Dutch♦L.Dutch
91.7k29212440
91.7k29212440
add a comment |
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
I see you're sneaking in three extra questions there ... best practice is to ask one focused question in order to get one good answer. You can always ask follow up questions. But you knew that already! Please edit accordingly.
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
@elemtilas Fair enough. Question edited.
$endgroup$
– SealBoi
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Great! Question answered!
$endgroup$
– elemtilas
3 hours ago
$begingroup$
Related (but not a dupe): worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/q/115804/21222
$endgroup$
– Renan
3 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
As another alternative, consider the Bombardier Beetle: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_beetle
$endgroup$
– Arkenstein XII
29 mins ago