Koala’s Special Digestion System

           According to S.J Clark, T.J Dawson, and I.D Hume research about koala digestion system, this small marsupial animal is likely to have difficulty processing sufficient quantities of their poor-quality food, Eucalyptus leaf, to meet their metabolic needs. Eucalyptus leaf is rich in fiber and have large amounts of lignin, which is indigestible by lightweight animal such as the koala. Those researcher found that there are three major factors that allows this marsupial to exploit its roughage-laden diet (Journal of comparative physiology B, vol. 153, p.181) and that is why koala’s digestion system is special.

            First, the koala has a discerning digestive system which allow them to regulate the passage of food through their guts. The alimentary canal retains solutes and smaller digestible particles in caecum and colon, this is probably a space-saving exercise; it has effect of increasing the rate at which raw material can be fed into the system.

            Second, the koala has a low overall requirement for their metabolic energy, compared to other marsupial of similar size such as, the three-toed sloth.

Third, and the last factor is eucalyptus leaf has hidden qualities. Despite the preponderance of lignin and other indigestible matters, there are amount of carbohydrates such as, sugar and starch which will satisfy the bulk of the koala’s energy needs. Also, constituents of the eucalyptus cell wall such as, cellulose are less important. However, it is digested with the help of microbes in the hind gut.

As can be seen, the koala digestion system might develop because of evolution. This evolutionary in digestion system probably happen because koala is a slow-moving marsupial and cannot reach another tree so, they have no choice but eat eucalyptus leaf. Just like Darwin says, the best adapter animals are the one who can survive and that is what might happen to koala, they adapt to survive. 

(Reza)

here are pics of cute koala and epic koala...

My Fave meal; Sate Kambing

Sate Kambing or Goat Satay is a very common meal in Indonesia. It could be found almost in everywhere with different seasoning depending the area. However, I think the most delicious seasoning is soy sauce, pepper and hot chili. It tastes sweet and spicy at the same time, while in throat it tastes warm because of the pepper, nd the well-done toasted meat texture is easy to chew and swallow. The smells is dominated by pepper smell, in small amount its very nice, but if you too much sniff it you'll get sneeze alot and it feels bad. The peculiar smells of goat smell also make my appetite to eat it is more higher and higher. The appearance of Sate Kambing is like another meat satay, its block-cutted, nad because it it soy sauce seasoning it colors is black and a bit brown well-done meat, you know that color of meat toasted up to well-done phase. so that is how I describe Sate Kambing from my perspective but, remember do ot eat too much goat meat, it will make you get hypertension. and FYI, my favorite Sate Kambing is Sate Kambing Samirono, the restaurant is located in front of GOR UNY or Gymnastic Building of Yogyakarta State University. Cheers!