Everything about Folivore totally explained
In
zoology, a
folivore is a
herbivore that specializes in eating
leaves. Mature leaves contain a high proportion of hard-to-digest
cellulose and relatively little energy. For this reason folivorous animals tend to have long
digestive tracts and slow
metabolisms. Many enlist the help of
symbiotic bacteria to release the nutrients in their diet.
Folivory and flight
It has been observed that folivory is extremely rare among flying animals. Morton (1978) attributed this to the fact that leaves are heavy, slow to digest, and contain little energy relative to other foods.
Arboreal folivores
Arboreal folivores, such as
sloths and some species of
monkeys and
lemurs, tend to be large and climb cautiously. Similarities in body shape and head- and tooth-structure between early
hominoids and various families of arboreal folivores have been advanced as evidence that early homonoids were also folivorous.
Folivorous primates are relatively rare in the
New World, the primary exception being
howler monkeys. One explanation that has been offered is that fruiting and leafing occur simultaneously among New World plants. However a 2001 study found no evidence for simultaneous fruiting and leafing at most sites, apparently disproving this hypothesis.
Examples
Examples of
folivorous animals include:
Further Information
Get more info on 'Folivore'.
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