Abstract
THE domestic rabbit produces special soft fæcal pellets which are normally taken back into the stomach direct from the anus1,2. This behaviour, which has been termed coprophagy, refection2 or more appropriately re-ingestion3, has been observed in wild rabbits4 where it has been shown to follow a regular daily rhythm, beginning about sunrise and ending in the early afternoon3,5.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Madsen, H., Nature, 143, 981 (1939).
Eden, A., Nature, 145, 36 (1940).
Watson, J. S., Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 124, 615 (1954).
Southern, H. N., Nature, 145, 262 (1942).
Meyers, K., Aust. J. Zool., 3, 336 (1955).
Watson, J. S., and Taylor, R. H., Science, 121, 314 (1955).
Lechleitner, R. R., J. Mamm., 38, 481 (1957).
Spencer, J. L., Lloydia, 18, 197 (1955).
Hamilton, W. J., J. Mamm., 36, 303 (1955).
Kirkpatrick, C. M., J. Mamm., 37, 300 (1956).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
TYNDALE-BISCOE, C. Re-ingestion in Lepus capensis L. and Ochotona roylei Ogilby. Nature 183, 471–472 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1038/183471b0
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/183471b0