Definition

A small stone that some animals, like reptiles and birds, swallow to help break down food in their stomachs.

Example

The dinosaur swallowed a gastrolith to help digest its tough plant diet.

Conversation

Did you know some birds have a special stone called a gastrolith in their stomachs?

Really? I had no idea they used stones to help with digestion.

Yeah, it helps them grind up food, kind of like how we use teeth.

That's so interesting! Nature has some clever solutions.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Gastrolith is formed from "gastro-" (from Greek "gaster", meaning stomach) and "lithos" (meaning stone). The word refers to stones found in the stomach of certain animals, particularly those that aid in digestion.

Memory Tip

Think of 'gastro-' relating to the stomach and 'lithos' meaning stone — so a gastrolith is a stone that is found in the stomach.

Visually Confused Words