Nutrient digestibility and gastrointestinal electrolyte flux in the elephant and rhinoceros

Abstract

Nutrient digestibility and absorption-secretion were studied in elephants and rhinoceros. 2. Prehension and diet selection are discussed. 3. Rhinoceros select less fiber, which may account for their greater digestive efficiency. 4. Foregut digestion and fermentation were most evident in rhinoceros, while elephants possessed greater caecal-colonic digestion. 5. Relative to rhinoceros, elephants demonstrated greater intestinal VFA absorption and less sodium-potassium flux.