What are ruminents?Are they able to digest cellulose?
Thank you for using the Jiskha Homework Help Forum. First of all the dictionary will explain "ruminant" for you:
Main Entry: [2]ruminant
Function: adjective
Date: 1691
1 a (1) : chewing the cud (2) : characterized by chewing again what has been swallowed b : of or relating to a suborder (Ruminantia) of even-toed hoofed mammals (as sheep, giraffes, deer, and camels) that chew the cud and have a complex usually 4-chambered stomach
2 : given to or engaged in contemplation : MEDITATIVE <stood there with her hands clasped in this attitude of ruminant relish —Thomas Wolfe>
(they are ruminant mammals)
Next, here is a cite explaining how ruminants digest cellulose:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose
As a side noted, it is not the ruminants who digest the cellulose: it is microorganisms that they carry in their intestines which break down the cellulose, thence the ruminants can absorb the products of that digestion.
Ruminants are a group of mammals that belong to the suborder Ruminantia. Some examples of ruminants include sheep, giraffes, deer, and camels. They are characterized by chewing the cud and having a complex usually 4-chambered stomach.
To answer your question, yes, ruminants are able to digest cellulose. However, it is not the ruminants themselves that digest cellulose. They have a specialized digestive system that allows them to ferment and break down cellulose with the help of microorganisms.
These microorganisms, such as bacteria and protozoa, reside in the ruminant's intestines. They produce enzymes that break down the cellulose into simpler compounds that can be absorbed by the ruminant. This symbiotic relationship between the ruminant and the microorganisms allows the ruminant to efficiently digest plant material, which is rich in cellulose.
If you want to learn more about cellulose digestion in ruminants, you can refer to the following link: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose]