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Pseudoruminant is a classification of animals based on their digestive tract differing from the ruminants. Hippopotami and camels are ungulate mammals with a three-chambered stomach (ruminants have a four-chambered stomach) while equids (horses, asses, zebras) and rhinoceroses are monogastric herbivores.[1][2]

Anatomy

Like ruminants, some pseudoruminants may use foregut fermentation to break down cellulose in fibrous plant species (while most others are hindgut fermenters with a large cecum). But they have three-chambered stomachs (while others are monogastric) as opposed to ruminant stomachs which have four compartments.

Species

Pseudoruminant Image Genus Weight
Common hippopotamus Hippopotamus 1.5 to 3.0 tons
Horse Equus 380 to 999 kg
One-horned rhinoceros Rhinoceros 1.8 to 2.7 tons
Rabbit Oryctolagus 1 to 2.5 kg

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.
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