Rare Feeders: 10 most fascinating animals that eat seldomly
Olm (Cave Salamander)
The olm, a blind amphibian from European caves, can survive without food for up to 10 years, slowing its metabolism drastically in dark and nutrient-scarce aquatic environments.
Crocodile
Crocodiles possess extremely efficient metabolisms, enabling them to survive months without eating. They often gorge on large prey, storing energy in fat reserves, and slow down movement to conserve energy.
Gila monster
This venomous lizard from North America eats only about five to 10 times a year. Its body stores fat in its tail, helping it endure long periods of fasting.
Penguin
During breeding season, male emperor penguins may go without food for over two months while incubating eggs in freezing Antarctic conditions, relying entirely on stored fat reserves.
Sharks
Certain sharks, like the great white, can go weeks without hunting after consuming a large prey. Their slow digestion and efficient energy use support extended fasting periods.
Snakes
Many snakes, such as pythons, eat only once every few weeks or even months after swallowing large prey whole, depending on prey size and environmental conditions.
Bears
During hibernation, bears do not eat, drink, or defecate for months. Instead, they rely on fat stores built up during summer and fall to survive winter.
Spiders
Some spiders can live for weeks or months without catching prey. They conserve energy by remaining motionless and lowering metabolism, relying on minimal resources until food becomes available.
Seahorse
Unlike many fish, some seahorses can survive on very little food for extended periods, especially in colder waters where metabolism slows, though most thrive on constant small meals.
Tardigrades
Known as ‘water bears,’ tardigrades can enter a cryptobiotic state, essentially suspending life processes, allowing them to survive years without food or water in extreme environments.