Ruminants
Ruminants
Ruminants (/ˈruːmɪnənts/) are a type of mammal that digest plant-based food through a unique process involving fermentation in a specialized stomach prior to digestion, principally through microbial actions. The process, known as rumination, involves the regurgitation of food to the mouth for further chewing.
Etymology
The term "ruminant" comes from the Latin ruminare, which means "to chew over again".
Characteristics
Ruminants have a complex digestive system. Their stomachs are divided into four compartments: the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum, and the abomasum. Each compartment plays a unique role in the digestion of plant material.
Examples
Examples of ruminants include cattle, goats, sheep, giraffes, yaks, deer, antelope, and some species of kangaroos. These animals are all part of the suborder Ruminantia for which they were named.
Related Terms
- Rumen: The first compartment in the stomach of a ruminant where fermentation of ingested food occurs.
- Reticulum: The second compartment in the stomach of a ruminant, it works in conjunction with the rumen.
- Omasum: The third compartment in the stomach of a ruminant, it absorbs water and nutrients.
- Abomasum: The fourth compartment in the stomach of a ruminant, it functions similarly to a human stomach.
- Ruminantia: The taxonomic suborder that includes animals that ruminate.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ruminants
- Wikipedia's article - Ruminants
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