Comparison of Herbivore, Carnivore and Nectar Feeder

Syllabus Dot Point

Identify data sources, gather, process, analyse and present information from secondary sources and
use available evidence to compare the digestive systems of mammals, including a grazing herbivore,
carnivore and a predominantly nectar feeding animal

Mammalian Carnivore
Humans, pigs, etc.

Mammalian Herbivore
Cattle, sheep, etc.

Examples of
animals in
this group

Chemicals
common in
foods
ingested by
animal

Our system is designed to

digest and absorb protein
and fats substances that
do not require long time
processes to break down
the nutrients
Protein as amino
acids
Fats/Lipids as fatty
acids & glycerol
Carbohydrates as
simple sugars
(monsaccharides)

Ruminant animal
High carbohydrate diet
with lower amounts of
protein the protein is less
concentrated than in the
flesh of an animal
Farmers and protein
supplements problems
mad cow disease

Mammalian Nectar Feeder

The honey possum is a
small, mouse-sized
marsupial mammal that lives
in south-western
Australia.
The dietary specialisation of
honey possums appears not
to be due to any
specialisation of the
digestive system but to the
specialisations of the tongue
and palate which enable the
animal to harvest sufficient
pollen and nectar to provide
protein and energy required
for all lifes purposes.

Diagram of
digestive
system (cut
& paste from
internet)

Comparison
of system
parts teeth

Comparison
of system
parts
stomach(s)

Teeth include:
Canines (small)
grabbing/ripping
Incisors - cutting
Molars - grinding

Teeth include:
Nipping/cutting teeth
Molars - grinding

Monogastric 1 stomach
Contains acid (HCl)
digestion of protein requires
acidic conditions

Ruminant more than 1 stomach

actually 4 Rumen, Omasum,
Abomasum and reticulum
Rumen (main large stomach) has
bacteria and other organisms that

The incisors and canines

are pointed but the cheek
teeth are flattened pegs with
rounded tips and do not
resemble the normal
structure of mammalian
teeth
It has a large, twochambered stomach.

Mammalian Carnivore

Comparison
of system
parts small
intestine

Comparison
of system
parts
Caecum

Comparison
of system
parts Large
Intestine

Most nutrient absorbed here

The surface area for
absorption is maximised by
villi
Amino acids + simple
sugars into blood
Fatty acids into the lymph
Contains bacteria to assist
in breakdown of foods
extremely small and of little
usage
Much shorter (length) than
small intestine
Absorption of
Water
Vitamins
minerals

Mammalian Herbivore
breakdown cellulose and complex
carbohydrates into simple sugars
- fermentation
Most nutrient absorbed here
The surface area for absorption is
maximised by villi
Amino acids + simple sugars into
blood
Fatty acids into the lymph
Contains bacteria to assist in
breakdown of foods larger than
in monogastric animal
Much shorter (length) than small
intestine
Absorption of
Water
Vitamins
minerals

Mammalian Nectar Feeder

Pollen (high in protein and

carbohydrate) is digested
progressively in the small
intestine.

First it lacks a caecum so

there is little to help us
identify where the small
intestine finishes and where
the large intestine starts!