What is the maximum residence time food spends in a wombat's system?
Answer
14 days
The digestive process for a wombat is exceptionally slow, which is a crucial adaptation allowing them to maximize energy extraction from fibrous, low-quality forage. This extended residence time means that food can take as long as 14 days to pass completely through the system. This slow throughput is directly linked to their low metabolic rate, enabling energy conservation necessary for an animal spending long hours foraging nocturnally. This duration contrasts sharply with faster-digesting mammals, such as ruminants, highlighting the evolutionary specialization toward persistence over rapid processing.
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