Why is small intestine in herbivores longer than in carnivores?

Question

Answer

HERBIVOROUS animals have LONGER INTESTINES than that of carnivorous animals.,,, This is BECAUSE their diet is grass and plants, made up of fibre and CELLULOSE which are hard to digest,,,. As a result the herbivorous animals NEED a longer digestive track to DIGEST their foods COMPLETELY...

Answer

Herbivores eat plants-plants have cellulose-cellulose needs extra processes to get digested-so they have long intestines.

Answer

Because of high conectartion of carbohydrates in herbivores

Answer

Why is the small intestine in herbivores longer than in carnivores?

Differences in digestive systems
- Herbivores primarily consume plant material which is rich in complex carbohydrates that require more extensive digestion.
- Carnivores mainly consume animal flesh which is easier to digest and requires less processing.

Herbivores' need for additional digestion
- Plant material is tough and requires more time and effort to break down through enzymatic action.
- Herbivores have a longer small intestine to facilitate the absorption of nutrients from plant material.

Importance of surface area for absorption
- The small intestine is the main site of nutrient absorption in the digestive system.
- Herbivores need a longer small intestine to increase the surface area available for nutrient absorption from plant material.

Role of cellulose digestion
- Herbivores need to digest cellulose, a complex carbohydrate found in plant cell walls.
- The longer small intestine in herbivores allows for the fermentation of cellulose by specialized microorganisms, further aiding in digestion.

Evolutionary adaptation
- Herbivores have evolved longer digestive systems to efficiently extract nutrients from plant material over time.
- This adaptation has allowed herbivores to thrive on a diet that is relatively low in nutrient density compared to carnivores.
In conclusion, the longer small intestine in herbivores compared to carnivores is a result of the need for more extensive digestion of plant material and the efficient absorption of nutrients from a plant-based diet.

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