Coprophagy
- Pronunciation
- /kuh-PROF-uh-jee/
- Category
- Behavior
- Singular
- Coprophagy
- Plural
- Coprophagies
Definition
The feeding on feces, a behavior observed in certain insects such as dung beetles.
Etymology
From Greek 'kopros', meaning 'dung', and 'phagein', meaning 'to eat'.
Example
Dung beetles engage in coprophagy to feed on the nutrients found in animal feces.
Synonyms
- Dung-feeding
Related Terms
- Detritivory
- Scatophagy
- Decomposition
Usage Notes
Coprophagy is essential for nutrient cycling in ecosystems as it helps decompose and recycle organic matter.