coprophagy

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English[edit]

English Wikipedia has an article on:
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Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From copro- (excrement) +‎ -phagy (to feed on).

Noun[edit]

coprophagy (uncountable)

  1. The eating of feces.
    • 1980, G. J. Kenagy, D. F. Hoyt, “Reingestion of Feces in Rodents and Its Daily Rhythmicity”, in Oecologia, volume 44, number 3, page 403:
      We use "coprophagy" as the simplest available general term to describe ingestion of the feces, without any implication of cause, circumstances, or the origin or nature of fecal material consumed.
    • 1989, Nutrition and Management of Dogs and Cats, page 38:
      Other studies postulate that dogs practice coprophagy in an attempt to conserve digestive enzymes, in particular protelytic enzymes and amylase (McCuistion, 1966).
    • 2010, Peter Conrad, The Monthly, April 2010, Issue 55, The Monthly Ptd Ltd, page 52:
      In Ligeti's Le Grand Macabre (2003), Kosky previewed the apocalypse in a blitz of surreal images that made coprophagy, as he puts it, look "gorgeous".
    Synonym: scatophagy

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