The larva of a the thistle tortoise beetle deposits poop on its back as a shield.
Judy Gallagher via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
These uses of poop for protection are stranger than fiction
Defense by dung doesn't always elicit disgust in predators to repel them
A glowing butt might help some pitvipers attract their dinner
Many animals have been discovered to have biofluorescence, but it is not always clear why an organism might have evolved this trait
Strong butt muscles are the key to sprinting at an elite level
Instead of the hamstrings, your butt is the real motor behind lightning-fast sprint speeds, at least if you're an elite male sprinter
Which came first, the butt or the mouth? New research gives an answer
It's a chicken-and-the-egg question, but "which came first?" might not be the right way to think about it
A breathing tube through the butt could be an alternative to mechanical ventilators
Inspired by animals that breathe through their butts, scientists show that mammals can also harness the incredible breathing ability of our butts
Scientists celebrate Inverte-Butt-Fest, a photographic homage to spineless backsides
"Invert butts should be celebrated because they have a wide diversity in form and function, and because they bring us all joy"
Escaping through a predator's butt is a common strategy for prey
Some have evolved to just survive, but other species actively seek out being pooped out
Anuses can have teeth, farts can be weapons, butts can be homes: an interview with a farts expert
Zoologist and butt book author Dani Rabaiotti on the worst fart she ever smelled and what new fart research she'd like to see
Conservation dogs can track individual beavers by the scent of their anal secretions
The dogs' accuracy in telling animals apart using information-packed anal scents will help wildlife management
How did human butts evolve to look that way?
An evolutionary anthropologist tackles the mystery of the butt