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Thread: Scientists finally reveal why wombats poop in cubes

  1. #1
    Administrator fuego's Avatar
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    Scientists finally reveal why wombats poop in cubes

    Pics at the link. You know you wanna look and see square poop.
    ______

    This scatological discovery is "shaping up" to be big for the animal world!

    Scientists have unlocked the mystery behind why wombats poop bizarre, cube-shaped pellets, linking it to the animal's super-long and stiff intestine, according to a new study.

    New research shows the short-legged marsupials take distinct dumps, resembling pieces of barbecue charcoal, because their intestines stretch up to 33 feet long — roughly 10 times their body length, according to a report published Thursday in the journal Soft Matter.

    It takes four days for the 3-foot-long critter to expel waste from its 33-foot intestines, creating boxy-shaped feces as their muscles contract and it dries in parts of the colon, according to the study by University of Tasmania researchers.

    "Bare-nosed wombats are renowned for producing distinctive, cube-shaped poos. This ability to form relatively uniform, clean cut feces is unique in the animal kingdom," Dr. Scott Carver, a University of Tasmania wildlife ecologist, said in a statement.

    "The rhythmical contractions help form the sharp corners of the cubes ... Our research found that these cubes are formed within the last 17 percent of the colon intestine," he added.

    Carver shot down previous theories that wombat poo is a result of the animal having a square-shaped anal sphincter, or that the creatures mold their feces themselves, calling the notions "complete nonsense."

    "There were wonderfully colorful hypotheses around but no one had tested it," he said.

    A previous study noted that wombats, including baby wombats, use tactically placed dumps to communicate with one another.

    The study stirred up attention online Friday, with many wondering: What is a wombat? The animals live in Australia and Tasmania, generally weigh between 45 and 75 pounds, and feed on grass and roots.

    Scientists finally reveal why wombats poop in cubes

  2. #2
    Now that's news you can use.

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    fuego (01-30-2021)

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    Senior Member Cardinal TT's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by fuego View Post
    Carver shot down previous theories that wombat poo is a result of the animal having a square-shaped anal sphincter, or that the creatures mold their feces themselves, calling the notions "complete nonsense."

    I was hoping this was the answer but scientist spoils the fun

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    Colonel (01-30-2021)

  6. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by Cardinal TT View Post
    I was hoping this was the answer but scientist spoils the fun
    I was just going to post that portion. That made me laugh.

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    Administrator fuego's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cardinal TT View Post
    I was hoping this was the answer but scientist spoils the fun
    Quote Originally Posted by FireBrand View Post
    I was just going to post that portion. That made me laugh.

  8. #6
    You learn something new every day.

    With this post and the other recent one about Tesla's one-wave valve, this is becoming a very educational forum.

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    Senior Member diakonos777's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by njtom View Post
    You learn something new every day.

    With this post and the other recent one about Tesla's one-wave valve, this is becoming a very educational forum.

  11. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by njtom View Post
    ... this is becoming a very educational forum.
    Not that there is anything wrong with not becoming one.

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    fuego (01-30-2021)

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    Senior Member Romans828's Avatar
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    Education? - We don't need no stinkin' education!!!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Romans828 View Post
    Education? - We don't need no stinkin' education!!!

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