they do. but they also eat brains for when there is no hypotherapy handy. for example, a Smurf in Courage and Honour noms a Tau's brain for a crash course in Tau tech. also this: Omophagea Phase 8: This implant allows a Space Marine to 'learn by eating'. It is situated in the spinal cord but is actually part of the brain. Four nerve bundles are implanted connecting the spine and the stomach wall. Able to 'read' or absorb genetic material consumed by the marine, the omophagea transmits the gained information to the Marine's brain as a set of memories or experiences. It is the presence of this organ which has lead to the various flesh-eating and blood-drinking rituals for which the Astartes are famous, as well as giving names to chapters such as the Blood Drinkers and Flesh Tearers. Over time, mutations in this implant have given some chapters unnatural craving for blood or flesh.1
DOTDOTDOTDOTDOTelipseselipseselipses Everything I know is wrong! What book has all this ? I've been reading horus heressy. On the first book right now.
I dont know which book refrences it, its been stated in the marine codex a few times (a codex is the book with the armies rules for gameplay)
You can find a PDF download on the internet called either "Complete 40K History" or "The WH40K Fluff Bible". It's over 200 pages of 40K info (mostly older) but the creation of space marines is covered in it. In particular here is the 'spit acid' entry. Phase 17 -- Betcher's Gland. Two of these identical glands are implanted, either into the lower lip, alongside the salivary glands or into the hard palette. Betcher's gland works in a similar way to the poison gland of venomous reptiles by synthesising and storing deadly poison. Marines are rendered immune to this poison by virtue of the gland's presence. The gland allows the Marine to spit a blinding contact poison. The poison is also highly acidic and corrosive. A Marine imprisoned behind iron bars could easily chew his way out given an hour or so.
yeah 2011/2012 it's been in development since 2007 and it's finally gonna get some public appearance besides some concept art at E3. Like Teaser trailer, screenshots, game mechanics, etc etc.
aside from eating brains and spitting acid, they are also pretty comfortable in extreme temperatures, they get along pretty well more or less naked in -40c (or lower) and theres atleased one chapter that lives inside a volcano. they can eat anything, from tree bark to plague rats with no ill effects they have a special filter-lung which allows them to breath basically anything, including poisonous gasses and water. they can go for weeks without proper sleep by switching off parts of their brain sequentially. and all that is without any kind of outside support, armour or weapons. additionally, the basic weapon of the space marines, the Bolter, is basically a semi-auto armour piercing rocket-propelled grenade launcher, and thats with standard issue ammo. i could go on >_>
lmfao What the fuck. it sounds like they can crush some one's spine by just poking it. I never knew all the details about a astartes but now its wow.
Also there chest cavity has been infused with a carbon carapace, they have 2 hearts as well...because they are twice the man...seriously.
the Black Carapace is more of a collection of sockets than a armour though, the defense it provides is very minimal. on the other hand, their bones are stimulated to absorb a ceramic compound that is laced in their diet, this makes their bones harder than most metals, and causes their ribcage to deform into a set of interlocking plates, providing a bullet-proof shield for their inner organs. @eck not poke, no, but they can pulp a human skull with one hand, and they could probably snap a person's spine with little effort if they put their mind to it. and their amour adds alot more strength on top of that.