RT Journal Article
T1 The Digestive System of the Arctocephalus australis in Comparison to the Dog as a Land-Carnivore Model
A1 Martín Ortí, Rosario
A1 Tostado Marcos, Carlos
A1 Loureiro, Juan-Pablo
A1 Molpeceres Diego, Ignacio
A1 González Soriano, Juncal Milagros
A1 Santos Álvarez, Inmaculada
A1 Tendillo Domínguez, Enrique
A1 Pérez Lloret, Pilar
AB Marine mammals play a critical ecological role as both predator and prey. They are divided into three groups that share similar adaptations to their aquatic life, but that have very different origins and life patterns: sirenians, pinnipeds, cetaceans. The species object of our interest is the South American fur seal or Arctocephalus australis, a carnivore classified within the group of pinnipeds. The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether the anatomical characteristics of the Arctocephalus australis’ digestive system are similar to that of other land-carnivores or if, on the contrary, this species shows anatomical adaptations related to their life in the ocean. The study was carried out on 11 cadavers of the species Arctocephalus australis, made up of two adults and nine juveniles, by means of the anatomical dissection of their entire isolated digestive system. We demonstrate that, with several exceptions, the anatomical characteristics of the digestive system of the Arctocephalus australis are similar to those in other carnivores. Therefore, our data constitute an important contribution for clinical diagnostic and conservation purposes, for both veterinarians and biologists.
PB MPDI
SN 2076-2615
YR 2022
FD 2022-06-25
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/73220
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/73220
LA eng
DS Docta Complutense
RD 9 may 2024