Friday 23 November 2012

Ruminant Physiology

Ruminating animals have various physiological features which enable them to survive in nature. One feature of ruminants is their continuously growing teeth. 

During grazing, the silica content in forage causes abrasion of teeth. Abrasion of the teeth is compensated by continuous tooth growth throughout the ruminant's life, as opposed to humans or other non-ruminants whose teeth stop growing after a particular age. 

Most ruminants do not have upper incisors; instead they have a thick dental pad to thoroughly bite food. Camels and llamas are exceptions; their dentition shows traces of vesitigial central incisors in the upper jaw.

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