A Cloaca is an opening towards the rear of the body that serves as the only opening for the intestinal, reproductive and urinary tracts of certain animal species.



All birds, reptiles, amphibians and bony fish have a cloaca which they use to excrete both urine and feces, unlike placental mammals that have two separate openings for evacuation.



In birds, the cloaca is also known as the vent.



The word Cloaca comes from the Latin cloaca which means sewer.