How do water voles typically prepare food before ingesting it?
Answer
They do not process food extensively externally before ingestion
Water voles exhibit a relatively simple approach to food preparation, distinguishing them from some other herbivores that rely on external processing mechanisms. They do not engage in extensive mashing, fermentation, or grinding of the plant material before eating it. Instead, they clip the stems of grasses and reeds and consume them directly, often right where they are harvested. If a piece is too large, they might drag it back to a nearby feeding perch or their burrow entrance. The main mechanism for breaking down complex structures like tough cellulose falls to the specialized gut flora within their digestive tract, not to external manipulation.
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