MORPHOLOGY OF INTESTINAL VILLI IN AFRICAN ANTELOPE (ARTIODACTYLA, BOVIDAE)

Villous morphology in 16 species of African antelope varied from finge r-like and leaf-like to ridge-like forms. Some species showed uniform villi whereas it was variable in others. There was a slight indication that leaf-like and finger-like forms become more frequent in the dist al regions of the small intestine. The variation in morphology was not associated with body size or phylogeny, but did show a significant co rrelation with diet: species with high moisture content and/or high fi bre levels (equivalent to low bulk values) in the digesta were more li kely to have ridges, which were the lowest of the villi.