Why isn't the world covered in poop? - Eleanor Slade and Paul Manning
5,478,716 Views
16,694 Questions Answered
Let’s Begin…
Each day, the animal kingdom produces roughly enough poop to match the volume of water pouring over Victoria Falls. So why isn’t the planet covered in the stuff? You can thank the humble dung beetle for eating up the excess. Eleanor Slade and Paul Manning explain how these valiant insects make quick work of an endless stream of feces.
A plant in South Africa has evolved seeds that look and smell like dung to trick dung beetles into burying them. This is an example of an evolutionary arms race. Why?
Sign in to answer questionAbout TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Educator Eleanor Slade, Paul Manning
- Director Anton Bogaty
- Script Editor Elizabeth Cox
- Animator Anton Bogaty
- Sound Designer Weston Fonger
- Associate Producer Elizabeth Cox
- Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
- Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
- Narrator Addison Anderson
- Fact-Checker Francisco Diez