If you’ve ever seen a dog chewing on a bone, you’ve probably thought of the word nawing. A dog will chew on a bone until its marrow floats to surface. And in a metaphorical sense, nawing can be the same. The same dark thoughts can also gnaw at your mind. Continue reading to learn more about the many uses of nawing.
Gnawing is a natural survival mechanism for rodents. In their evolutionary past, rodents used to gnaw on objects that provided little nutritional benefit. Now, some researchers speculate that gnawing may have evolved for other purposes, including communication and territorial marking. However, more research is needed to understand why rodents gnaw. But one thing is certain: gnawing is a useful way for rodents to explore their environment.
Gnawing animals are not only a source of food, but they also serve as pets. Rodents’ front teeth are self-sharpening, and are made to gnaw on hard and crunchy foods. Gnawing is the most popular method of eating and is used by many animals, from tiny gerbils to large capybaras. In fact, rodents gnaw on nuts, grains, and bones of any kind.
There are many types of gnawing damage to bones. Often, these damage patterns indicate that the animal was a carnivore, but there are no visible signs of tooth marks or other evidence of activity. Pleistocene North American mammals have been known to show gnawing damage to their bones. The damage is classified for scapulae, humeri, radii, femurae, tibiae, and innominates.