Why do herbivores have longer intestine than carnivores?

Question

Answer

The herbivores animals like cow which eat grass need a longer 'small intestine' to allow the cellulose present in grass to be digested completely.....on the other hand, meat is a food which is easier to digest.....so, carnivorous animals like tigers which eat meat have a shorter 'small intestine'.....

Answer

Herbivores have longer intestine than carnivores because herbivores eat only which is composed of mainly cellulose which is very hard digest that is they take more time digest that is why they have longer small intestine .In the case of carnivores they eat meat which is easier to get digest than grass that is why carnivores have smaller intestine

Answer

Bcz herbivores have to digest cellulose, which is not easy food material to digest. So, I think they have larger intestines

Answer

Herbivores are plant eaters and plant contains cellulose which cannot be easily digested so their intestine has evolved and thus became longer to provide more surface area and time to digest

Answer

Introduction:
Herbivores and carnivores have distinct dietary requirements, which are reflected in their digestive systems. One noticeable difference is the length of their intestines. Herbivores typically have longer intestines compared to carnivores. This difference can be explained by several factors related to their diet and digestive processes.

Dietary Composition:
Herbivores primarily consume plant material, which is generally more challenging to digest compared to animal-based diets. Plants contain complex carbohydrates such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, which require specialized digestive mechanisms to break them down. In contrast, carnivores consume animal tissues that are easier to digest due to their simpler chemical composition.

Efficient Digestion of Plant Material:
To effectively digest plant material, herbivores have evolved specialized adaptations. Longer intestines provide more surface area for the breakdown and absorption of nutrients. The additional length allows for a slower transit time, enhancing the breakdown of complex carbohydrates by the resident gut microorganisms and the action of digestive enzymes.

Fermentation and Microbial Activity:
The longer intestines in herbivores also facilitate fermentation and microbial activity. Herbivorous mammals often possess an enlarged cecum or a specialized fermentation chamber, such as the rumen in ruminants. These structures house symbiotic microorganisms that aid in the digestion of plant material. The extended intestinal length allows for a longer retention time, enabling the microorganisms to efficiently break down complex carbohydrates into simpler forms for absorption.

Increased Nutrient Absorption:
The longer intestines of herbivores also contribute to increased nutrient absorption. Plant material contains essential nutrients, but some of these nutrients are less bioavailable compared to those found in animal tissues. The extended intestinal length increases the contact time between the digested plant material and the intestinal walls, enhancing nutrient absorption.

Conclusion:
In summary, herbivores have longer intestines compared to carnivores due to the nature of their diet and the need to efficiently digest plant material. The extended length provides more surface area for nutrient absorption, allows for the breakdown of complex carbohydrates by gut microorganisms, and facilitates fermentation processes. These adaptations enable herbivores to extract nutrients from plant material and meet their dietary requirements.

Similar Class 10 Doubts

Why do herbivores have longer,small intestine than carnivores?

Why do herbivores have longer small intestine than carnivorous?

Why do herbivores have a longer small intestine?

Why is small intestine in herbivores longer than in carnivores?

Why is small intestine in herbivores longer than in carnivores ?

Top Courses for Class 10View all

Science Class 10

Social Studies (SST) Class 10

Mathematics (Maths) Class 10

English Grammar Advanced

English Grammar Basic

Top Courses for Class 10

Top Courses for Class 10

Suggested Free Tests

Related Content

About Class 10

Class 10 Study Material

Class 10 All Subjects

NCERT Textbook Solutions

Other Classes

Important Links

Company