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Elephant Alimentary System - Anatomy & Physiology (view source)
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|linkpage =Alimentary - Anatomy & Physiology
|linktext =Alimentary System
|maplink = Alimentary (Concept Map)- Anatomy & Physiology
|pagetype =Anatomy
|sublink1=Hindgut Fermenters - Anatomy & Physiology
|subtext1=HINDGUT FERMENTERS
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==Introduction==
==Introduction==
Elephant anatomy is very much comparable to the [[Hindgut Fermenters - Horse - Anatomy & Physiology|horse]] and [[Hindgut Fermenters - Rabbit - Anatomy & Physiology|rabbit]]. Microbes are present in the hindgut that produce [[Volatile Fatty Acids - Anatomy & Physioogy|Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs)]]. VFAs make a substantial contribution to the elephant's total energy requirements. Food has a relatively fast transit time and as a result elephants have a low digestive efficiency (44% as opposed to 60% in [[Hindgut Fermenters - Horse - Anatomy & Physiology|horses]]). A fast transit time is achieved by a short GIT, reduced [[Caecum - Anatomy & Physiology|caecum]] and increased GIT diameter. Their digestive strategy is to pass as large a quantity of low quality food through their digestive tract within a short period of time.
Elephant anatomy is very much comparable to the [[Hindgut Fermenters - Horse - Anatomy & Physiology|horse]] and [[Hindgut Fermenters - Rabbit - Anatomy & Physiology|rabbit]]. Microbes are present in the hindgut that produce [[Volatile Fatty Acids - Anatomy & Physioogy|Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs)]]. VFAs make a substantial contribution to the elephant's total energy requirements. Food has a relatively fast transit time and as a result elephants have a low digestive efficiency (44% as opposed to 60% in [[Hindgut Fermenters - Horse - Anatomy & Physiology|horses]]). A fast transit time is achieved by a short GIT, reduced [[Caecum - Anatomy & Physiology|caecum]] and increased GIT diameter. Their digestive strategy is to pass as large a quantity of low quality food through their digestive tract within a short period of time.