Folivore

In Zoology, a folivore is an animal that specializes in eating leaves.

Related Topics:
Zoology - Leaves

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Examples of folivorous animals:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Mammals: okapis, sloths, koalas and various species of monkey.
• Birds: The Hoatzin of the Amazon region and the Kakapo of New Zealand
• Reptiles: Iguanas http://www.anapsid.org/iguana/rand.html
• Insects: various kinds of caterpillar

Mature leaves contain a high proportion of hard-to-digest cellulose and relatively little energy. For this reason folivorous mammals tend to have long digestive tracts and slow metabolisms. Many enlist the help of symbiotic bacteria to release the nutrients in their diet.

Related Topics:
Cellulose - Digestive tract - Metabolism - Symbiotic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 
Folivore: See also ►