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Sloths ( Bradypus variegatus ) as a polygastric mammal
Author(s) -
Mesquita Ellen Y. E.,
Soares Paola C.,
Mello Luise R.,
Freire Elisa C. B.,
Lima Ana R.,
Giese Elane G.,
Branco Érika
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.23568
Subject(s) - stomach , mammal , herbivore , biology , adaptation (eye) , digestion (alchemy) , zoology , mucus , ecology , digestive tract , biochemistry , chemistry , medicine , neuroscience , chromatography
Fermentative herbivorous animals have peculiar conformations of the digestive system. It is known that B. variegatus obtained the capacity for evolutionary adaptation, due to their ecology and eating habits. However, despite the literature on feeding management for this species, there is a lack of published information regarding its gastric morphology, and such information would support a better understanding on the diet and digestion of these individuals. We found seven gastric compartments, which histologically revealed three distinct patterns: an aglandular keratinized fraction (mechanical stomach) and two glandular fractions, one a mucus secretor and the other one composed of acid secreting cells (chemical stomach). With these evidences we understand that these individuals have gastric resemblance to ruminants, with some inherent peculiarities of this species, including the transit of the bolus.