Animals eating own faecal matter are
Correct Answer :
Coprophagous
Solution :
The correct option is Coprophagous.
Here is a step-by-step breakdown of the logical explanation:
1. Definition of Coprophagy:
The term "coprophagy" originates from the Greek words kopros, meaning feces, and phagein, meaning to eat. Therefore, animals that consume their own feces or the feces of other animals are scientifically classified as coprophagous. This behavior is common in several animal species, such as rabbits, rodents, and certain insects, helping them absorb nutrients (like vitamins and proteins) that were not fully digested during the first passage through the alimentary canal.
2. Analyzing the Other Options:
To understand why the other choices are incorrect, we can look at their definitions:
• Detritivorous: These are organisms (like earthworms and woodlice) that feed on detritus, which is decomposing organic matter such as dead plant parts, leaves, and organic debris.
• Frugivorous: These are fruit-eating animals (like certain bats, birds, and monkeys) whose diet primarily consists of raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce.
• Sanguivorous: These are blood-feeding animals (like leeches, mosquitoes, and vampire bats) that subsist on the blood of host organisms.
Thus, the specific term for animals eating their own faecal matter is Coprophagous.
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