Why Do Wombats Have Square Poop?

Photo: Cube-shaped wombat poop (faeces)

The Only Animal with Cube-Shaped Poop!

Wombats are the only animals in the world that produce six-sided cube-shaped poop (faeces), referred to as "scat". That’s right. While most animals have round or tubular scat, wombats take a unique approach! But how do they do it? And why does their poop come out in such a bizarre shape?

How Do Wombats Produce Cube-Shaped Poop ?

No, wombats don't have a square anus (though that would be pretty weird). Instead, their cube-shaped poop is the result of their unique digestive system. Wombats have a long and complex digestive tract, which helps them extract as much moisture as possible from the food they eat. The magic happens in the last 30% of their intestines, where the poop is compressed into cube-like shapes due to varying contraction rates in different sections of the intestine.

As the faeces moves through, some parts of the intestine squeeze harder than others, creating those distinct six-sided poop cubes. The final result? Extremely compact, dry pellets that maintain their shape when defecated. This is how the cube poop is made. Pretty cool, right?

• What is a Wombat?

Why Do Wombats Have Square Poop?

Photo: More cube-shaped wombat poop

Wombat poop isn't just weird—it’s functional. Wombats use their cube-shaped scat as a communication tool. Being nocturnal animals with limited vision, wombats rely heavily on their sense of smell to navigate the world. They leave their cube-shaped poop in prominent places, such as logs, rocks, and the entrances of their burrows, helping the animal find its way back home to its burrow in the dark. Its poop is also like an animal business card. It tells other wombats that the burrow is occupied and the owner's age, sex, sexual maturity, general health, and what type of wombat it is.

Why Cube-Shaped?

You might be wondering: Why cubes, though? The cube shape makes it easier for wombats to leave their scent in strategic locations without the risk of their poop rolling away. Because the cubes are stable, they stay put and are more visible to other wombats, making them a more effective territorial marker.

Wombats produce between 80 to 90 cubes of poop each night which they deposit at the rate of four to eight cubes per sitting. That mean they go to the toilet up to 20 times a day!

Fun Facts About Wombat Poop

• Size matters: Wombat poop is relatively large compared to other animals of similar size. The cubes are roughly the size of a human thumb!

• Poop isn't waste, it's a tool: Aside from marking territory, wombat poop can even help wombats find their way back to their burrows in the dark.

• Wombats and their digestive systems: A wombat’s intestines are 1.5 meters (5 feet) long, giving them plenty of time to process their food and produce these quirky poop cubes.