The act or habit of eating feces, observed in certain animals and sometimes in humans with specific medical, nutritional, or psychological conditions.
From Greek 'kopros' (feces) + 'phagein' (to eat). The '-ia' suffix makes it a medical/behavioral condition. Documented in veterinary medicine and early scientific observation of animal behavior.
While it sounds revolting to us, coprophagia in rabbits, guinea pigs, and dogs is usually a sign of nutritional deficiency or instinctive nutrient recycling—not just random nastiness. In humans, it's sometimes linked to autism spectrum disorders or severe malnutrition.
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