Their Butt Does What?!?!
A skunk’s spray is stored in glands near its rear end and can be launched with surprising accuracy—just one way animals use their butts for defense. In this science program with Susie Maguire of the Poop Museum, participants learn how the physiology of animal butts reveals unexpected adaptations. Eastern painted turtles can breathe through their rears while hibernating underwater, and herrings communicate at night by releasing high-pitched bubbles from their backsides. This curious and funny presentation invites observation, sparks critical thinking, and makes anatomy unforgettable.
Self-Directed Learning
Did you know some fish use their butts to talk? This short and funny video introduces viewers to the herring, a small fish with a big secret: it communicates through high-pitched farts! These fast repetitive ticks (FRTs) come from the swim bladder—an internal balloon-like organ—and are released through the fish’s anal vent. The sounds help herring stay together in the dark and warn each other of predators. This quirky yet scientific clip is a great way to extend learning from Their Butt Does What?! by exploring concepts in marine biology, animal communication, and adaptation. A perfect primer before the event or a hilarious conversation starter afterward, this video encourages curiosity about the unexpected ways animals survive and connect.
