- Digestive tracts are specialised to suit the food/feed selection and dietary strategies of the
animal and the animals’ ability to obtain nutrients from this diet.
a. Why is the giant panda referred to as a ‘vegetarian carnivore’? (10 marks)
b. Describe one other specialist feeder species (can be from anywhere in the world, both
terrestrial and aquatic) and briefly describe the key physiology and metabolism that
allows the animal to obtain nutrients from this diet. (10 marks)
c. You are a ’mad scientist’ that has found a way to breed an entirely new species of animal
from scratch. Describe the basics of a digestive system (including teeth, tract type such
as key stomach structure, other accessory organs where relevant, and any metabolic
adjustments) for a new species that you have designed that feeds upon one of the
following foods (select one only): (25 marks)
i. Meat from seals or other aquatic mammals
ii. Grape plants (including fruit, leaves and stems)
iii. Sugarcane
iv. Insects
v. Another food/feed of your choice (be creative / strange!)
*note – there is no ‘correct’ answer to part c, be creative but use your knowledge (and
some more research) on digestive physiology to make these decisions. Use dot points to
justify the choices you have made
Sample Solution