TalesFromtheTailEnd
Animalshavesomeinterestingwaystodealwiththeirwaste.ChinstrapandAdéliepenguinsliketokeepclean.So,theyshoottheirpoopfarawayfromtheirbodies.Someanimalsmarktheirterritorywiththeirwaste.Hipposspintheirtailslikepropellers.Thisspreadstheirpoopoverawide area.
Nakedmoleratsrollintheirpoop.Thismarksthemasamemberoftheir clan.
Adélie penguin
keeps tidy
sendsa message
hippopotamus
SendingaMessage
Peccarypoopisakindofmessageboard.ThesewildpigsfromSouthAmericatendtopoopinabigpile.Eachtimeapeccarygoes,itsniffsthepiletofindoutwhat’sgoing on.
Giantriverottersalsosendamessage.Themessageis:Stayaway! TheseottersliveinbigfamilygroupsinriversinSouthAmerica.Theyhaveplaceswherealltheotterspoop.Thestinkymesskeepsotheranimals away.
DungbeetlesinAfricarollballsofdung.Theyeatpartofit.Theylayeggsinit.Whenthebabiesareborn,theyhaveaninstantfood source.
Turkeyvulturespoopontheirownlegsandfeet.Thiscoolsthem off.
feedsthe family
dung beetle
cools off
turkey vulture
BetterOutThanIn?
Whydosomeanimalseat poop?Someanimalscan’tgetenoughnourishmentfromtheirfoodthefirsttimetheyeatit.So,theyeatittwicebyeatingtheirown poop.
There’sanotherreason,too.Koalaseateucalyptusleaves.Thesearehardtodigest.Specialmicrobesintheirstomachshelpbreakdownthisfood.Theymakeiteasierforkoalastoeat.Babykoalasdon’thavethesemicrobes.So,themotherfeedsthebabysomeofherpoop.Thathelpsmicrobesgrowinthebaby’sstomach.Nowthatyouknowmoreaboutpoop,youmayneverthinkofitthesameway again!
feedsthe baby
koala
