Question

Consider the following characteristics of herbivore digestive systems and habits.

1. Cows have 4 chambered stomachs and chew cud.

2. Rabbits eat their droppings called cecotropes.

3. Pandas have short digestive system and a small presence of bacteria in the gut.

4. Elephants have a large cecum (the part connecting the two intestines) containing fermenting bacteria.

Which of the above characteristics help food to remain longer in the digestive tract?

• A. 1, 2, 4
• B. 1, 2, 3, 4
• C. 1, 3, 4
• D. None of the Above

Answer 1

The correct option is A

1, 2, 4

Since herbivorous animals like cows and deer and rabbits, eat vegetative material as food, the cellulose present in these plants get longer time to digest. Many animals have specific bacteria in their gut which secrete special enzymes that can digest cellulose. All the characteristics like, four-chambered stomach, large caecum, are adaptations for a vegetarian diet. It increases the length of the digestive tract and provides more time for digestion and absorption.