What specialized digestive trait places *H. inermis* in the Suborder Ruminantia?
Answer
Chewing cud using a complex, multi-chambered stomach
Placement within the Suborder Ruminantia signifies that the Chinese water deer possesses a complex, multi-chambered stomach structure specifically adapted for ruminating, which involves chewing cud. This process allows the animal to efficiently break down and derive maximum nutrition from tough, fibrous vegetation, typical of their herbivorous diet. This physiological feature confirms its classification among true deer, as ruminants share this specialized digestive adaptation for processing plant matter.
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