Poop
Nearlyallanimalspoop.It’showtheirbodiesgetridofsolidwaste. Thatwastecouldbefoodthattheirbodiescan’tbreakdownoruseforenergy.Itcouldalsobegrossthingslike germs.
Thescientificstudyofpoopiscalledscatology (ska‑TALL‑uh‑gee).Whenananimalpoops,ordefecates, itspoopispackedwith information.
Animalpoopcantellwhatkindofanimalleftitandwhen.Itcantelltheanimal’sage,size,andgender.Itcantelluswhetheritatemeator plants.
Notallanimalpoopisthesame.AnadultAfricanelephantcandropmorethan136kilograms(300pounds)ofpoopeveryday!Squirrelspoopbean‑sizedroppings.Wombatspoopoutcubes.Somesharkshavetwistedintestinesandpoopin spirals.
Thepurposeofpoopgoesbeyondjustgettingridofwaste.Poopcanspreadseeds.Itcancreatesandyislandbeaches.Itcanbeusedasaweapon.Poopmarksterritoryandscaresotheranimalsaway.Itcanevenbeabuildingblockfor shelters.
PoopWitha Purpose
Thetambaquifishisafruit-andseed‑eatingfishintheAmazonRiver.Iteatstheseedsofwaterplants.Seedsthataren’tdigestedarepoopedoutand“planted”asfaras5,000meters(3 miles) away.
plants seeds
tambaqui
makes sand
parrotfish
Haveyoueverbeentoawhite‑sandbeach?Youmayhavebeenstandingonparrotfishpoop!Parrotfishnibbleoncoralreefs.Whenit'stimetopoop,theypoopoutsand—bitsofcrushedcorals.Oneparrotfishcanproducemorethan300kilograms(660pounds)ofwhitecoralsandeachyear.Thesandwashesashoreandpiles up.
Leafbeetlescovertheireggsinpoopthatthenhardens.Thelarvaelaterbreakaholeinthesecasesandusethemasmobilehomes.Otherbeetlehatchlingsbuildtowersofpoop.Theycanalsousethemas shields.
leafbeetle
larvae
leaf beetle
makes homes
Name‑Droppings
Humans’ solid waste is called stool, feces (FEE‑seas), and excrement (EX‑crum‑ent). Animals’ waste has different names, too.Here are a few examples:
castings – worms
droppings – birds
dung – cattle, elephants
fewmets – deer
frass – insects
guano – bats, seabirds
scat – wild animals
spraints – otters
