Digestion and nutrition in the koala: a review

S. J. Cork, G. D. Sanson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter (Book)Researchpeer-review

47 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Eucalypt foliage is a poor quality diet for Phascolarctos cinereus, being high in fibre and low in available nutrients. In theory, such a diet should be unsuitable for a mammal of the koala's size, due to the general increase in ratio of metabolic energy requirements to gut capacity among mammals as body size decreases. However, the nutrient requirements of koalas are low compared with other mammals and their digestive process is highly specialized. Koalas meet most of the energy requirements by digestion of dietary cell contents in the stomach and small intestine. -from Authors

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationBiology of the Koala
EditorsAnthony Lee, Kathryn Handasyde, Gordon Sanson
Place of PublicationSydney
PublisherSurrey Beatty & Sons
Pages129-144
Number of pages16
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1991

Publication series

NameBiology of the Koala
PublisherSurrey Beatty and Sons

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