The American Black Bear Digestive System
A black bear can not digest mature plants. The digestive tract is short, only 40% of a typical herbivore. (1) This means the bear can't digest tougher cellulose. They depend on stomach muscles to break down food. (2) Black bears need to consume and will do whatever it takes.
(1) http://www.bearnovascotia.ca/bear_biology.htm
(2) http://www.bearnovascotia.ca/bear_biology.htm
(1) http://www.bearnovascotia.ca/bear_biology.htm
(2) http://www.bearnovascotia.ca/bear_biology.htm
How the American Black Bear Digests Food
Pathway of Food!
1) They eat whole pieces of prey with their Canine teeth.
2) Then they take small pieces with their bicuspids and carnassial teeth and swallow the smaller pieces whole. (3)
3) It travels down the esophagus and into the stomach.
4) In the stomach, acid breaks down food into a liquidy mixture. (4)
5) This liquidy mixture enters the small intestines, where it is broken down even more.
6) These basic components are absorbed into the bloodstream. (5)
7) The leftovers go to the large intestines.
8) In the large intestines water is drawn out.
9) This water leaves the body by the anus as excrement. (6)
(3) http://www.essortment.com/mammals-digestive-system-26910.html
(4) http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/digestive_system.html
(5) http://www.earthlife.net/mammals/diet.html
(6) http://library.thinkquest.org/15873/zoo/digestive/animals.shtml
1) They eat whole pieces of prey with their Canine teeth.
2) Then they take small pieces with their bicuspids and carnassial teeth and swallow the smaller pieces whole. (3)
3) It travels down the esophagus and into the stomach.
4) In the stomach, acid breaks down food into a liquidy mixture. (4)
5) This liquidy mixture enters the small intestines, where it is broken down even more.
6) These basic components are absorbed into the bloodstream. (5)
7) The leftovers go to the large intestines.
8) In the large intestines water is drawn out.
9) This water leaves the body by the anus as excrement. (6)
(3) http://www.essortment.com/mammals-digestive-system-26910.html
(4) http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/digestive_system.html
(5) http://www.earthlife.net/mammals/diet.html
(6) http://library.thinkquest.org/15873/zoo/digestive/animals.shtml