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− | |linkpage =Alimentary - Anatomy & Physiology
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− | |linktext =Alimentary System
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− | |pagetype =Anatomy
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− | |sublink1=Hindgut Fermenters - Anatomy & Physiology
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− | |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 [[Alimentary System - Horse Anatomy|horse]] and [[Rabbit Alimentary System|rabbit]]. Microbes are present in the hindgut that produce [[Volatile Fatty Acids|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 [[Alimentary System - Horse Anatomy|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. |
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| ==Features== | | ==Features== |
− | *Natural diet is high in fibre (36%) and low in protein (7-10%)
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− | *Juvenile elephants require 3 kg of feed per 100kg of body weight per day
| + | An elephant's natural diet is high in fibre (36%) and low in protein (7-10%). Juvenile elephants require 3 kg of feed per 100kg of body weight per day. The passage time of food through the gastrointestinal tract ranges from 18 to 24 hours. They have no [[Gall Bladder - Anatomy & Physiology|gall bladder]] and their taenia and sacculations are not as clearly defined as in the horse. |
− | *The passage time of food through the gastrointestinal tract ranges from 18 to 24 hours.
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− | *No [[Gall Bladder - Anatomy & Physiology|gall bladder]]
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− | *Taenia and sacculations are not as clearly defined as in the horse
| + | [[Category:Alimentary System - Anatomy & Physiology]] |
| + | [[Category:Large Intestine - Anatomy & Physiology]] |
| + | [[Category:A&P Done]] |