Comparative lengths of digestive tracts of seven didelphid marsupials (Mammalia) in relation to diet

被引:18
作者
Cáceres, NC [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Fed Santa Maria, Dept Biol, BR-97105900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
来源
REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE ZOOLOGIA | 2005年 / 22卷 / 01期
关键词
D O I
10.1590/S0101-81752005000100021
中图分类号
Q95 [动物学];
学科分类号
071002 ;
摘要
The relative proportions of the digestive tract were rarely explored to understand the behaviour and the ecology of neotropical marsupials. In this study, proportions of the digestive tract and diet were compared in seven opossum species. The animals studied were Didelphis albiventris Lund, 1840, D. aurita Wied-Neuwied, 1826, Metachirus nudicaudatus (Desmarest, 1817), Philander frenatus (Olfers, 1818), Lutreolina crassicaudata Desmarest, 1804, Monodelphis sorex (Hensel, 1872) and Caluromys lanatus (Olfers, 1818). Segments of digestive tracts of marsupials were measured and differences were statistically tested by Analysis of Variance and Covariance. Caecum and hard guts were responsible for the main differences among opossums, although all segments differed significantly. Caluromys lanatus was the most specialised species, with a large hard gut and caecum, small stomach and shorter small gut. The large caecum of M. nudicaudatus and the shortest hard gut of M. sorex were also noticed. The arboreal C lanatus has a well different feeding habit and life style regarding other marsupials studied, such as M. sorex and M. nudicaudatus which are terrestrial, corroborating the results reached.
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页码:181 / 185
页数:5
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