How does the nilgai's specialized digestion grant it an advantage over hindgut fermenters like horses during food scarcity?
Answer
The nilgai's system allows for periodic, efficient processing of bulky forage.
The microbial fermentation in the rumen allows the nilgai to successfully utilize tougher, less digestible vegetation when preferred grasses are scarce, contrasting with hindgut fermenters that might rely on high-quality, easily digestible food.

Related Questions
What does the Hindi derivation of the name "nilgai" literally suggest?To which taxonomic family does the nilgai belong?What is the fundamental characteristic defining animals as ruminants, according to the text?Which of the four stomach compartments is identified as the nilgai's 'true stomach'?What specific feature of the nilgai's placenta confirms its classification among ruminants?How does the nilgai's specialized digestion grant it an advantage over hindgut fermenters like horses during food scarcity?What feeding habit did the nilgai predominantly adopt after being introduced to drier South Texas environments?What is the primary function of the symbiotic microbes located in the nilgai's rumen?In its native India, what cultural association has historically protected the nilgai from widespread hunting?What beneficial ecological side effect of nilgai droppings is mentioned as often being overlooked?