Herbivores, Omnivores, Carnivores, Oh My! Animal Nutrition Lab Flashcards
Metabolism
the chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life.
Endotherm
An organism that is able to maintain a steady internal temperature on its own
Ectotherm
an animal whose body temperature varies with the temperature of its surroundings
Resting Metabolic Rate
The energy required to maintain essential body processes at rest.
Physique
the form, size, and development of a organism’s body
kcal
the unit of measurement that is used to represent energy.
Overall Metabolic Rate
The amount of energy needed for all daily activities beyond our basic needs.
Dentition
The type, development, arrangement and number of teeth for an organism
cecum
a pouch connected to the junction of the small and large intestines.
what is the main function of the cecum in herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores?
breaks down cellulose in plants
what is the difference in the cecum of carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores?
Herbivores cecums are much larger than omnivore cecum, while carnivores have very small or nonexistent cecums. (based on amount of plant in diet)
what is cellulose
a fiber that is very hard to digest that is found in cell walls of plants
what are the main functions of the large and small intestines?
small intestine: absorbs most of the nutrients from food
large intestine: absorbs remaining water and salts, gets rid of waste
what are the differences of the intestines between omnivores, herbivores, and carnivores?
herbivores have the longest digestive tract and less simpler, carnivores have short and simple, omnivores are in between
Incisors
Teeth between the canines that are used for cutting.
Canines
Teeth in front of the premolars that rip and tear food.
Premolars
The teeth immediately behind the canines; used in chewing, grinding, and shearing food.
Molars
Back teeth that grind food
How did you figure out what features allowed herbivores and carnivores to consume their diets?
You can determine animal diet through the differences in their digestive system and their dentition.
digestion background by mrs torpie
Vertebrate digestive tracts tend to be the shortest and simplest in carnivores, and longer in omnivores. Due to the high levels of cellulose in the walls of plant cells, the digestive tracts of herbivores are more complex, and include a system for the
additional digestion of plant material. The midgut, which includes the small intestine, is the principal site of digestion and nutrient absorption in all vertebrates. It is separated from the large intestine, or hindgut, by a valve. The hindgut is the site of water reabsorption. The cecum is
a blind sac located at the junction between the midgut and hindgut. It is the structure utilized for additional digestion of plant material.
