Broad Diet Composition and Digestion

Question 1

types of carnivores

Answer 1

obligate 100% meat diet

hyper carnivore 70% meat diet

mesocarnivore 50% meat diet

hypo carnivore 30% meat diet

Question 2

Non-specialized Carnivores

Answer 2

eat vertebrate prey 
auto-enzymatic 
prey can provide
- balanced array of EAA
- good sources of fats, minerals, and vitamins
- not Ca unless eating bone 

physical properties
- strong jaws, teeth, beak, claws or talons

Question 3

Piscivores

Answer 3

eat fish 
auto-enzymatic
prey can provide
- balanced array of EAA
- good source of minerals and vitamins

provide highly variable fat content- depending on type of fish and climate

feeding techniques
- teeth, suction, filter, feeding

potential for toxin accumulation

Question 4

indigestible materials

Answer 4

bone and keratin

handled by

1. separate before ingestion
2. separate in the gizzard and eggiest as pellets
3. not separated- although some bone is digestible

Question 5

Insectivores

Answer 5

eat insects
auto-enzymatic
insects provide: 
- balanced EAA
- good source P, trace minerals, vitamins
- fat content can be variable 

may eat plants for fat

Exoskeleton
- high calcium- low digestibility

Chitin

• high indigestible
• varies between species
• animals will remove these parts or may have chitinase to break chitin down

Question 6

Microfaunivores

Answer 6

eat invertebraetes (that are not insects) 
auto-enzymatic digestion 
soft tissue similar to insects
- high digestible 
- high protein
- variable fat content 
may have to consider exoskeleton

Question 7

Grazers and Browsers

Answer 7

eat vegetative tissue
allo-enzymatic
microbial fermentation
plant material provide: 
- good balance of EAA
- low levels of Met and Lys 
- variable Na supply

Question 8

Nectarivores

Answer 8

eat nectar, honey and honeydew
auto-enzymatic digestion
highly digestible simple sugars
typically very low levels of EAA and EFA
- insects must be eaten to meet EAA requiremets

Question 9

Frugivores

Answer 9

eat fruits 
mainly auto-enzymatic digestion 
variable levels of: 
- energy 
-CP
- fat
- low Ca

may eat insects to supplement
seeds contained indigestible coat

handled by:
- chewing, cracking, gizzard grinding