Gastrointestinal morphology of the crowned lemur (Eulemur coronatus).
I provide measurements of the gastrointestinal tract of a captive female Eulemur coronatus, obtained at necropsy, and describe its morphology. The small intestine, caecum and colon were short when compared with those of other lemur species. The ratio of intestine length to body length was low. Distinct sacculations were present in the caecum, but not in the colon. The results suggest that E. coronatus is able to digest a certain amount of structural polysaccharides as contained in plant cell wall. The main fermentation chamber seems to be the caecum. Its digestive morphology implies that E. coronatus relies on a diet higher in energy-rich cell contents than those of other lemur species of similar body size.
Schwitzer
C
C
Bristol Conservation and Science Foundation, Bristol Zoo Gardens, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3HA, UK. cschwitzer@bristolzoo.org.uk
D000818:Animals; D004063:Digestion / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D007901:Lemuridae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*