Peccarypoopisusedaskindofashort‑handtofilleverybodyin.ThesewildpigsfromCentralandSouthAmericatendtopoopinabigpile.Eachtimeapeccarygoes,ithasasniffatthepiletofindoutwhat’sgoingonwiththegroupandwhoisclose by.

Giantriverottersalsocreatecommunitytoilets,buttheydosotosendamessage.Themessageis:Stayaway!TheseottersliveinbigfamilygroupsinriversinSouthAmerica.Together,theycreatespecialplacesalongtheriverbankwherealltheotterspoop.Thestinkymessthattheycreatescaresawayother animals.

Someanimals,likeovenbirdsinAfrica,buildwithpoop.Theymakecomplexpredator‑proofmudnestsfromthepoopoflargeanimals,likeantelopeorwater buffalo.

DungbeetlesinAfricarollballsofdung—poopfromlargeranimals.Theyeatpartofitandlayeggsinit.Whenbabydungbeetlesareborn,theyhaveaninstantfood source.

Turkeyvulturespoopontheirownlegsandfeet.Thiscoolsthemoffandcleansawayanygermstheypickupfromthedeadanimalsthey devour.

Ifthepurposeofpoopingistoeliminatethingsthebodydoesn’tneed,thenwhydosomeanimalseatpoop?Rabbitsdothis.Someanimals—mostlyherbivores—can’tgetenoughnourishmentfromtheirfoodthefirsttimetheyeatit.So,theyneedtoeatittwicebyeatingtheirownpoop.Bydigestingthefoodasecondtime,rabbitsgetadditionalnutrientsfromtheir food.

There’sanotherreasonanimalsdothis.Koalasliveoffadietofeucalyptusleaves.Thesearetoughandhardtodigest.Specialmicrobesintheirstomachshelpkoalasbreakdownthisfood.Whenababykoalaisborn,itdoesn’thavethesemicrobesyet.So,themotherkoalawillfeedthebabysomeofherpoop.Thathelpsthemicrobesstarttogrowinthebaby’sstomach.Thesameistrueforgiantpandacubs.Microbesinthemother’spoophelpthecubsdigesttheirbamboomeals.It’strue,talkingaboutpoopcansometimesmakeusgiggleorwanttowrinkleupournoses.Yet,poopisaremarkablyusefulthing.Nowthatyouknowmoreaboutit,youmayneverthinkofitinthesameway again!