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Table: The Comparative Anatomy of Eating

From JFA Wiki
Comparative Anatomy of Eating (Dr. Milton Mills)
Trait Human Herbivore Omnivore Carnivore
Intestines: Small 10–11 times body length 10–12+ times body length 4–6 times body length 3–6 times body length

Intestines: Colon

Long, sacculated Long, complex; may be sacculate Simple, short, and smooth Simple, short, and smooth
Teeth: Incisors Broad, flat, and spade shaped Broad, flat, and spade shaped Short and pointed Short and pointed
Teeth: Canines Short and blunted Dull and short or long (for defense) or none Long, sharp, and curved Long, sharp, and curved
Teeth: Molars Flat with nodular cusps Flat with cusps vs. complex surface Sharp blades or flattened Sharp, jagged, and blade shaped
Saliva Carbohydrate-digesting enzymes Carbohydrate-digesting enzymes No digestive enzymes No digestive enzymes
Stomach: Type Simple Simple or with multiple chambers Simple Simple
Stomach: Acidity with Food pH 4–5 pH 4–5 ≤ pH 1 ≤ pH 1
Stomach: Capacity 21% to 27% of total volume of digestive tract < 30% of total volume of digestive tract 60% to 70% of total volume of digestive tract 60% to 70% of total volume of digestive tract
Chewing Extensive chewing necessary Extensive chewing necessary Swallows food whole or simple crushing None; swallows food whole
Nails Flat nails Flat nails or blunt hooves Sharp claws Sharp claws
Jaw: Type Expanded angle Expanded angle Angle not expanded Angle not expanded
Jaw: Joint Location Above the plane of the molars Above the plane of the molars On the same plane as molar teeth On the same plane as molar teeth
Jaw: Motion No shearing; good side-to-side, front-to-back motion No shearing; good side-to-side, front-to-back motion Shearing; minimal side-to-side motion Shearing; minimal side-to-side motion
Major Muscles Masseter and pterygoids Masseter and pterygoids Temporalis Temporalis
Mouth Opening vs. Head Size Small Small Large Large
Facial Muscles Well developed Well developed Reduced Reduced to allow wide mouth gape
Liver Cannot detoxify vitamin A Cannot detoxify vitamin A Can detoxify vitamin A Can detoxify vitamin A
Kidney Moderately concentrated urine Moderately concentrated urine Extremely concentrated urine Extremely concentrated urine
Source: Mills, M.D., Milton. “The Comparative Anatomy of Eating | Digestion | Gastrointestinal Tract.” Scribd. Accessed February 15, 2019. https://www.scribd.com/doc/94656/The-Comparative-Anatomy-of-Eating.