Coprophagy
Coprophagy
Coprophagy (/koʊˈprɒfədʒi/; from the Greek κόπρος kópros meaning "feces" and φαγεῖν phagein "to eat") is the consumption of feces. The word is derived from the Greek words "kopros," which means dung, and "phagein," which means to eat.
Overview
Coprophagy refers to many kinds of feces-eating, including herbivores consuming their own fecal matter, a behavior known as autocoprophagy, and species consuming the feces of other animals. Coprophagous insects consume and redigest the feces of large animals. These feces contain substantial amounts of semi-digested food, particularly in the case of herbivores, owing to the inefficiency of the large animals' digestive system.
Etymology
The term "coprophagy" comes from the Greek words "kopros" meaning "dung" and "phagein" meaning "to eat". It is a compound word formed from these two words.
Related Terms
- Autocoprophagy: The act of consuming one's own feces.
- Coprophagous: Referring to animals that eat feces.
- Herbivores: Animals that eat plants and have a digestive system that allows them to consume large amounts of plant material.
- Digestive system: The system in the body responsible for breaking down food and absorbing nutrients.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Coprophagy
- Wikipedia's article - Coprophagy
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