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Monkeys, Birds, Fruit-Eating Bats, and Rodents Also Have a Taste for Chocolate

Chocolate: Not Just for Humans

A new study has found that monkeys, birds, fruit-eating bats, and rodents also enjoy the taste of chocolate. These animals gnaw open the pods of the cacao tree to eat the sweet seeds inside.

Cacao Seeds: A Bitter Defense

The seeds of the cacao tree are extremely bitter, which is a survival strategy for the plant. The bitter taste deters most animals from eating the seeds, which allows the tree to reproduce.

Chocolate Consumption in Animals

However, some animals have evolved to tolerate the bitter taste of cacao seeds. Monkeys, birds, fruit-eating bats, and rodents have all been observed eating chocolate. These animals are able to break open the pods of the cacao tree and extract the sweet seeds inside.

Implications of the Study

The study's findings have implications for the conservation of cacao trees. The researchers suggest that the presence of animals that eat chocolate may help to disperse cacao seeds and promote the growth of new trees.