Dung eaters feed on waste, either of other species or their own. Those that eat their own, such as rabbits and ringtail possums, do it because it's so hard to extract nourishment from their nutrient-poor diet that digesting it a second time is worthwhile. In contrast, pikas eat their own dung to keep their salt levels in balance. Some dung eaters, like the dung beetles, play an important ecosystem role in recycling waste and helping to disperse or germinate seeds in the dung.
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Friendly gut bacteria
These young cockroaches need to eat their parents' droppings to break down the wood they eat.
These young cockroaches need to eat their parents' droppings to break down the wood they eat.
Dung feast
A ball of dung provides an underground feast.
A ball of dung provides an underground feast.
UK dung beetles
Dung beetles clean up the pony poo in Britain's fields.
Dung beetles clean up the pony poo in Britain's fields.
Dung deal
Nothing remotely edible stays in the forest for long. Fresh dung is no exception.
Nothing remotely edible stays in the forest for long. Fresh dung is no exception.
Diligent dung beetles
Dung beetles clean up after the herds in the Serengeti.
Dung beetles clean up after the herds in the Serengeti.
Other Feeding habits behaviours
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