Coprophagy and related strategies for digesta utilization

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to survey a sector of digestive specializations in search for common principles. It is concerned with the different forms of reingestion by which animals make use of bacterial products synthesized in the large intestine. In addition, digesta reflux within the gastrointestinal tract and digesta transfer between animals are treated. The approach is partly speculative in the hope of stimulating discussion and new experimental studies. For the same reason it is not limited to herbivores, and sometimes even includes findings from invertebrates.