Rabbits practice coprophagy as a way to maximize the nutritional value of their food. They produce two types of feces – soft cecotropes, which are rich in nutrients and are consumed directly from the anus, and hard pellets, which are excreted.
Rabbits
Elephants are known to eat the feces of other animals, especially during droughts when food is scarce. The process allows them to obtain additional nutrients from partially digested plant matter.
Elephants
Dung beetles feed on the feces of other animals, particularly herbivores. They roll the dung into balls and bury it to use as a food source and breeding chamber.
Dung Beetles
Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs, like rabbits, practice coprophagy to obtain essential nutrients, such as B vitamins, produced by bacteria in their cecum.
Dogs
While not a common behavior in domestic dogs, some dogs may consume feces, a habit known as coprophagia.
Kangaroo Rats
Kangaroo rats eat their own feces to extract additional nutrients during digestion. They produce two types of feces – moist pellets and dry, nutrient-rich feces called cecotropes.
Hippos
Hippos have been observed consuming their own feces, which may serve as a way to extract additional nutrients from their plant-based diet.
Captive Gorillas
Some captive gorillas have been observed engaging in coprophagy, possibly as a response to captivity-induced stress or dietary factors.