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This deep-sea fish's expandable stomach can hold huge meals
Many species have evolved ways to tote their own nourishment, an adaptation to environmental challenges such as drought and cold.
It’s almost Halloween, and kids will be knocking on doors across America asking for sweet handouts. For many animals, though, finding food isn’t so easy—it requires a combination of keen senses, physical prowess, and plain old good luck.
That’s why some species have evolved a unique strategy to stave off hunger: They store their food in their bodies.
Probably the most recognizable of these is the chipmunk, whose huge cheek pouches hold nuts and seeds gathered during the warmer months. Rather than fattening up for the long winter, these 25 rodent species cache treats in their bulging cheeks. (Read about the surprising foods animals store for the winter.)
“Storing food is a fairly advanced trait,” says Tracey Sutton,