- #1
AndrewChen
- 1
- 0
i've always wondered this...
Relationship between length of intestines and the diet of an animal?
- Thread starter AndrewChen
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- Animal Length Relationship
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the relationship between the length of intestines and the diet of animals, focusing on how different dietary habits (carnivorous, herbivorous, and omnivorous) may influence intestinal structure. The scope includes biological reasoning and digestive processes.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- Some participants propose that carnivores have shorter intestines than herbivores due to the relative ease of digesting meat compared to plant matter.
- One participant notes that the difficulty in digesting cellulose, a component of plant matter, may contribute to longer intestines in herbivores, suggesting that ruminating animals have specialized bacteria that aid in this process.
- Another participant raises the idea that the strength of stomach acid may also play a role, with carnivores potentially having stronger stomach acid and shorter intestinal tracts.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express various hypotheses regarding the relationship between intestinal length and diet, but no consensus is reached. Multiple competing views remain, particularly regarding the mechanisms behind these differences.
Contextual Notes
Some claims depend on assumptions about digestive processes and the role of specific enzymes, which are not fully explored or resolved in the discussion.
- #2
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What have you wondered about then?
Carnivores typically have shorter intestines than herbivores, for the simple reason that plants are harder to digest than meat. Omnivores, like humans, usually fall somewhere inbetween...
I also want to say thay I know absolutely nothing about biology, I just read the above somewhere. So don't take my word for it
Carnivores typically have shorter intestines than herbivores, for the simple reason that plants are harder to digest than meat. Omnivores, like humans, usually fall somewhere inbetween...
I also want to say thay I know absolutely nothing about biology, I just read the above somewhere. So don't take my word for it
- #3
mishrashubham
- 599
- 1
The main problem with taking in plant matter as food is digesting cellulose. Since its is a very long polysaccharide and also has strong bonds between its molecules, it is harder to break down.
Ruminating animals like cows have certain bacteria in their guts which make enzymes called cellulases that help them to break down cellulose.
And therefore may be (I am not really sure that's the reason) they have longer intestines in order to give enough time to the enzymes to act upon the fibres. (This seems like a weak argument and hence we really need experts to talk upon the subject)
Ruminating animals like cows have certain bacteria in their guts which make enzymes called cellulases that help them to break down cellulose.
And therefore may be (I am not really sure that's the reason) they have longer intestines in order to give enough time to the enzymes to act upon the fibres. (This seems like a weak argument and hence we really need experts to talk upon the subject)
- #4
grandbeauch
- 14
- 0
I also think it has to do with the strength of the stomach acid. I read something that stated carnivores have harsher stomach acid along with shorter intestinal tract.
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