Popular culture often labels certain animals as dirty because of their association with waste or decaying matter. Some creatures spend their lives around mud, waste, and rotting food, and that brings them into close contact with germs.
However, our ideas of cleanliness rarely align with the biological realities of the natural world. Many behaviors that appear unhygienic actually serve vital survival functions, such as regulating body temperature, defending against parasites, or recycling nutrients.
This gallery looks at 15 animals with messy reputations, the risks they pose to people, and how some of their filthy habits are actually beneficial. Click on to learn more.