coprophagy

• coprophagia

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

coprophagy (uncountable)

1. The eating of feces.
   • 1980, G. J. Kenagy and D. F. Hoyt, "Reingestion of Feces in Rodents and Its Daily Rhythmicity," Oecologia, vol. 44, no. 3, p. 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

• caecotrophy
• proctophagy
• reingestion