NACA Animal Control Officers Practice Test

Which animal's digestive route includes an enlarged cecum for fiber digestion?

1. Dog

2. Cat

3. Horse

4. Rat

The correct answer is: Horse

The correct answer is the horse, as the horse is a non-ruminant herbivore that relies heavily on fermentation to break down fibrous plant materials. The enlarged cecum in horses plays a crucial role in their digestive system, allowing for the fermentation of fiber. This adaptation is essential because horses consume large amounts of grass and hay, which are high in fiber but low in digestible nutrients. The cecum, along with the colon, acts as a fermentation chamber where microbes break down fibrous food, allowing the horse to absorb nutrients that would otherwise be inaccessible. In contrast, the digestive systems of dogs and cats are designed primarily for processing meat, making their ceca relatively small and not specialized for fiber digestion. Rats, while they are omnivores, have a digestive system that does not rely on an enlarged cecum in the same way as horses. Therefore, the adaptation of an enlarged cecum in horses is necessary for their dietary needs and efficient nutrient absorption from fibrous materials.