Question

Coprophagous animals are
A. Blood feeder
B. Dung feeder
C. Eating faeces
D. Eating members of own species

Answer 1

The term coprophagia refers to the act of consumption of waste extracted by an individual. The word coprophagia is derived from the Greek word meaning ‘eating’ of wastes extracted from the body of an organism.

Complete answer: Blood feeders are called hematophagy or hematophagy. Hematophagy is practised by some species of animals that are rich in nutrients, proteins, and lipids that can be taken without great effort. Many small animals like worms, leeches and arthropods feed on the blood for their food. The blood feeders are called hematophagia. Dung beetles are commonly known as dung feeders that feed on the faeces. They are mostly attracted by the dung collected by the burrowing owl. Dung beetles are classified into three groups. They are rollers which roll dung into round balls and later used as a source of food. Tunnelers which bury the dung wherever they find it and the dwellers they simply live in manure. Animals that feed on faeces and consume faeces as a source of food are called coprophagous animals. There are three kinds of coprophagous species. Heterospecific that feeds on faeces of other species, autocoprophagy that feed on faeces of other individuals, and autocoprogaphy that feed on its own faeces. Cannibalism is the act of consuming another animal of the same species as food. Such animals are known as cannibals. Some examples of animals that eat their own kind are Sand tiger sharks, polar bears and hamsters.
Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

Note: Centuries ago, faeces of patients were tested by physicians in order to judge their state and condition. It was recommended as a remedy for bacterial dysentery by Bedouins. Nematodes and leeches are the best examples of animals that feed on blood, especially human blood.