Ruminants are animals which chew the cud. Cud is un chewed grass taken into the rumen which is returned to the mouth for chewing (regurgitation). Examples include Goats, Sheep, Cattle, Antelopes and Buffalos.
They have a complicated stomach consisting of four chambers.
| RUMINANTS | NONRUMINANTS |
|---|---|
| 1) Have a four chambered stomach | 1) Have a single stomach |
| 2) Chew cud | 2) Do not chew cud |
| 3) Ptyalin is absent in the saliva | 3) Ptyalin is present in saliva |
| 4) Most digestion and absorption takes place in the stomach | 4) Most digestion and absorption takes place in the ileum |
| 5) Can digest cellulose with the help of cellulose from bacteria | 5) Cannot digest cellulose |
Other animals like termites eat wood, dry leaves etc which also contain cellulose. The digestion of cellulose in termites is also done by cellulase enzyme produced by protozoans which live symbiotically with the termites. The products of cellulose digestion may be glucose or acetic acid in other animals.