Pseudoruminant

Pseudoruminant is a classification of animals 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] The hippopotamus is an example of a pseudoruminant.[2]

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.

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.
  2. ↑ Laws, Richard (1984). The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: MacDonald D. ed. pp. 506–511. ISBN 0-87196-871-1.
Pseudoruminant Image Class Weight
Hippopotamus Hippopotamus 1.5 to 3.5 tonnes
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