Which term describes an animal with a four-compartment stomach?

• A. Omnivore
• B. Carnivore
• C. Ruminant
• D. Monogastric

Answer: (C)

Four-chambered stomachs are a hallmark of ruminants—animals that rely on microbial fermentation to break down fibrous plant material. The four compartments—rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum—work together to digest cellulose. Microbes in the rumen start breaking down the plant fibers, producing nutrients the animal can use, and many ruminants chew cud, regurgitating partially digested food to chew it again and maximize breakdown. This anatomy and the fermentation process define why the term describes these animals, such as cows, sheep, and goats.

The other terms describe diet or a different stomach setup rather than the four-chamber structure. Omnivores and carnivores refer to what an animal eats, not how its stomach is arranged, and monogastric means having a single stomach chamber, which doesn’t fit animals with a four-compartment stomach.