Pseudoruminant

Pseudoruminant is a classification of animal based on its digestive tract differing from the ruminants. Hippopotamidae (comprising hippopotami) are ungulate mammals with a three-chambered stomach (ruminants have a four-chambered stomach).[1]

Anatomy

Like ruminants, the pseudoruminants use foregut fermentation to break down cellulose in fibrous plant species. But in contrast to these, pseudoruminants have three-chambered stomachs while ruminants have four chambers or (multiple)

Species

Pseudoruminant Image Class Weight
Hippopotamus Hippopotamus 1.5 to 3.5 tonnes

See also

References

  1. Fowler, M.E. (2010). "Medicine and Surgery of Camelids", Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell. Chapter 1 General Biology and Evolution addresses the fact that camelids (including llamas and camels) are not ruminants, pseudo-ruminants, or modified ruminants.
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