ON STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS AND MORPHOPHYSIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION OF THE SPRINGBOK (ANTIDORCAS-MARSUPIALIS) DIGESTIVE-SYSTEM

The morphology of the adult springbok digestive tract is described mac roscopically and complemented by relevant microscopic observations. We ights and measurements of the different parts are provided as are plat es, with drawings and photographs illustrating their surface structure . Springbok have a very small nasolabial plane compared to other bovid s and a mouth opening of intermediate size. The weight of their masset er muscles is about 0,20% of body mass and the proportion by weight of salivary glands places them firmly in the mixed feeder group of rumin ants. Their long dental pad, palatine ridge structure and tongue divis ions differ distinctly from those of browsing species. Uneven but comp lete rumen papillation on all levels and the intermediate size of all stomach openings reflect adaptation to mixed forage of seasonally vary ing quality and rapid ruminal passage rate at rimes. The springbok oma sum is small, although well differentiated internally, offering about 6 000 mm(2) of absorptive surface. A well-developed distal fermentatio n chamber (caeco-colon) indicates a possibly important role in complem enting the energy supplied by ruminal digestion. Omasal structure and spiral colon development indicate pronounced water conservation. Sever al anatomical features indicate a limited ability to digest fibrous fe eds.