Honey Possum

Diet

Nectar-feeding
Nectar and pollen from eucalyptus, bottle brush and banksias

Nectar contains sucrose, glucose, fructose, produced by plants

Banksia nectar has an average sugar concentration of 25%

Pollen is the male gametes of a plant which contain protein, carbohydrate and fat.

Digestive System

Digestive system contains; oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and

rectum
The inside surface of the stomach is arranged in flat ridges which fills most of the

diverticulum. At the entry of the stomach the lining of the oesophagus changes to
tall column shaped cells.
The lining of the stomach secretes mucus but no digestive enzymes and may
serve as a storage organ for nectar.

Pollen is digested in the small intestine.

Small in length

Complexity of the System

Simple and short digestive tract
Nectar and pollen are plant tissue and easily digested

High sugar content and little fibre in their diet accounts for their simple digestive
system

Koala
Diet
Mainly eucalyptus leaves: starch
Occasionally will eat leaves from other native Australian plants

Eucalyptus leaves contain chemicals that are toxic such as tannins, phenolic
compounds, cyanogenic glycosides, and essential oils.
The leaves also contain low concentrations of nutrients.
Koalas select leaves that have high nitrogen content, minimum levels of water and
essential oils, and low in condensed tannins.

Digestive System
Digestive system contains; oesophagus, stomach, caecum, small intestine, colon,
rectum, anus
The Koala's digestive system is especially adapted to detoxify the poisonous
chemicals in the leaves.
Oesophagus carries the food to the stomach
Stomach contains bacteria and protozoa which break down the cellulose in the
cell walls of plant fibres.

 The caecum contains millions of bacteria which break down the fibre into
substances which are easier to absorb.
The small intestine is where the nutrients is absorbed.
Colon absorbs any water within the leaves
Around 3m long

Complexity of the System

Cellulose is difficult to digest

Koalas have adaptations within their digestive tract to cope with their diet
Rely on microbes to digest cellulose

To allow for microbial fermentation, the gut (caecum) of herbivores is complex and
relatively long in size (around 1.3m).

Large digestive tract gives the maximum opportunity for microbial action to occur
Specialised digestive organs are necessary to break down the high-fibre diet

Dingo
Diet
Carnivorous; consuming- kangaroo, wallaby, cattle, rats, geese, possum, rabbit
and wombat

Chemically composed of fats and protein

High energy content

Digestive System

 Digestive system contains: teeth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, pancreas,

liver, large intestine, anus

Dingos have chisel teeth incisors and ripping canine teeth as they are carnivorous
hunters. They also posses grinding molars

Oesophagus carries food to the stomach

Stomach secretes powerful digestive enzymes with a high amount of hydrochloric

acid
Small intestine is where food is digested and absorbed
Pancreas produces insulin and glycogen

Liver helps with absorbing fat, metabolising protein and removes toxins out of the
bloodstream

Large intestine helps absorb salt and water

Complexity of the System

Animal matter does not have a cell membrane and therefore the content is more
accessible

Gut is relatively short and unspecialised as protein and fat are easily digested
Relatively short intestine to eliminate food that rots easily

Bibliography
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UniServe Science. (2000). A Nectar Feeding Mammal The Honey Possum Tarsipes rostratus.
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