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Retention of solute and particle markers in the digestive tract of captive Somali wild asses (Equus africanus somaliensis)

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Abstract

In contrast to the domestic horse, whose digestive physiology has been thoroughly investigated, knowledge on the digestive physiology of wild equids is scarce. Comparisons between the domestic horse and the domestic donkey suggest that wild asses might achieve higher digestibilities. This could derive from longer retention times or a greater difference in the mean retention time (MRT) of particles vs. fluid (the selectivity factor (SF)). Here, we measured MRT of a solute (fluid; MRTsolute) and a particle (<2 mm; MRTparticle) marker in five captive male Somali wild asses (Equus africanus somaliensis) fed a diet of 95% grass hay. At a mean dry matter intake of 94 ± 3 g kg−0.75 day−1, MRTsolute was 33.3 ± 5.4 h and MRTparticle 39.6 ± 3.9 h, resulting in a SF of 1.21 ± 0.14. For their food intake, Somali wild asses appeared to have slightly higher MRTparticle than expected based on domestic equid data, in contrast to Grevy zebras (Equus grevyi), potentially indicating higher capacities of the digestive tract. However, considering data on domestic horses, donkeys, and zebra, there was no evident difference in the SF of wild equids compared to domestic ones. Together with an absence of reported anatomical differences in the digestive tract of wild and domestic equids, the data suggest a general similarity in the digestive physiology of equid species that contrasts with the diversity in the digestive physiology of ruminants, and that might be one contributing factor to a lack of sympatric, niche-differentiated equid species.

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Acknowledgements

This study was possible due to the kindness of the late HE Sheikh Saoud Bin Mohammed Al-Thani and his continuous support of scientific work and of the Zoo Research Camps. We thank F. Bach, R. Deiss, B. Dünner, T. Imboden, N. Kuster, A. Michel and D. Szabo for support in faecal sampling during ZRC 2009.

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Author notes

  1. Catrin Hammer & Sven Hammer

    Present address: , Naturschutz-Tierpark Görlitz, Zittauerstr. 43, 02826, Görlitz, Germany

  2. Dennis W. H. Müller

    Present address: , Zoologischer Garten Halle, Fasanenstr. 5a, 06114, Halle (Saale), Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Goettingen, Department of Animal Sciences, Kellnerweg 6, 37077, Goettingen, Germany

    Jürgen Hummel

  2. Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation, P.O. Box 44069, Doha, State of Qatar

    Catrin Hammer & Sven Hammer

  3. Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee 15, 53115, Bonn, Germany

    Karl-Heinz Südekum

  4. Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 260, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland

    Dennis W. H. Müller & Marcus Clauss

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  1. Jürgen Hummel
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Correspondence to Marcus Clauss.

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Hummel, J., Hammer, C., Hammer, S. et al. Retention of solute and particle markers in the digestive tract of captive Somali wild asses (Equus africanus somaliensis). Eur J Wildl Res 63, 41 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-017-1098-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-017-1098-1

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