Question:
Why is small intestine in herbivore longer than in carnivores ? (CCE 2013)
Solution:
Herbivorous diet has a large bulk. It is rich in cellulose. However, cellulose digesting enzymes are absent in them. For digestion
of cellulose, herbivores depend upon bacteria. The food has to be kept for longer period in the intestine for complete digestion of cellulose.
Therefore, small intestine where bacterial digestion of cellulose occurs has to be long. There is no such requirement in carnivores as their diet has
a smaller bulk which does not contain cellulose. They have a shorter intestine.