Wombats are the only animals that produce cube-shaped feces
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Wombats produce cube-shaped droppings — the only animal in the world known to do so. Scientists puzzled over this for decades; in 2021, researchers discovered the intestinal walls of wombats are not uniform in elasticity. Two stiffer sections alternate with two stretchier sections, which mould the feces into a roughly cubic shape as it moves through the digestive system. Wombats use their droppings to mark territory; the cube shape prevents them from rolling away on uneven surfaces.
The intestinal tract is soft tissue — we don't associate it with the ability to impose geometric shapes. Discovering that evolution found a cubic solution to a territorial-marking problem makes both wombats and physics feel stranger.
The Science Behind It
Wombats produce cube-shaped droppings — the only animal in the world known to do so. Scientists puzzled over this for decades; in 2021, researchers discovered the intestinal walls of wombats are not uniform in elasticity. Two stiffer sections alternate with two stretchier sections, which mould the feces into a roughly cubic shape as it moves through the digestive system. Wombats use their droppings to mark territory; the cube shape prevents them from rolling away on uneven surfaces.
Why Your Brain Finds This Hard to Believe
Sources & Verification
OddlyHuman Editors
VerifiedWritten and fact-checked by the OddlyHuman Behavioral Science Team. We verify all psychological, sociological, and historical claims against peer-reviewed journals, primary sources, and established encyclopedias to bring you accurate insights.
Read our Editorial Guidelines →“Wombats are the only animals that poop in cubes. Scientists only worked out how in 2021 — alternating stiff and stretchy sections of intestine act like a mould. The cubes don't roll away. 🟫 #OddlyHuman”