Morphometry of the digestive tracts of some passerine birds

Article Abstract:

Morphology of the gut in passerine birds is correlated with diet. The phylogenetic relations among species, however, do not strongly affect the correlation between gut measurement and body size. A positive correlation exists for stomach length, stomach width, and intestine length, while a negative correlation exists for intestinal diameter, villus length, and the thickness of the stomach. Analysis reveals that birds feeding only on insects have smaller stomachs with heavier walls and smaller intestines than those feeding on a mixed diet of insects and fruits or insects and seeds. Birds feeding on fruits have thicker-walled intestines than the seed-eaters.

Passeriformes, Perching birds, Digestive organs

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Gastrointestinal morphology and motility in American kestrels receiving high or low fat diets

Article Abstract:

A study is conducted to examine the gastrointestinal morphology and motility of American kestrels and to find out if these factors are affected by the birds' fat intake. Results suggest that the fat content of the diet does not have a significant impact on both anatomy and contractions. Contractile activity is characterized by a unique reflux of duodenal contents related to every duodenal flux in every gastroduodenal contraction cycle, which is assumed to enhance mixing of ingesta through digestive secretions and speed digestion of ingested nutrients.

Fat metabolism, Kestrels, Gastrointestinal system, Morphology (Animals), Animal morphology, Gastrointestinal motility

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Passage rates of digesta markers in the gut of the Hoatzin, a folivorous bird with foregut fermentation

Article Abstract:

The longest recorded passage rate for birds is among Hoatzin and they are identical to mean retention times found in some large foregut fermenting mammals. The measurement of passage rates of liquid and solid digesta in Hoatzin show that mean retention times of the liquids were much shorter than the solids. Energy utilization and nutrient utilization of both plant and cell walls were possibly optimized by long retention times, efficient separation of solid and liquid digesta and selective particle retention.

Hoactzin, Hoatzin

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