A comparison of fecal pellets between the moose (Alces alces) and the common eland (Taurotragus oryx)

@muir @kevinatbrakputs @beartracker @paradoxornithidae @photogenie

Also see https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/milewski/84799-a-comparison-of-postures-and-gaits-between-two-elands-the-moose-alces-alces-and-the-common-eland-taurotragus-oryx#

The feces of the moose (Alces alces) and its namesake the common eland (Taurotragus oryx) are so similar that they seem indistinguishable, at a macroscopic level.

This similarity applies to

• a seasonal difference, in which the feces are distinctly pelletised only at times when succulent green food is unavailable,
• size and shape of the pellets, and the variation in both, and
• the texture of the contents of the pellets, which is relatively coarse for ruminants (e.g. compare Bos taurus and Giraffa giraffa).

The number of photos of feces on the Web are several orders of magnitude greater for the moose than for the common eland. However, there are just enough photos for the latter species to allow the comparison below.

ALCES ALCES

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/183568029
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/187205878
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/186764594
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/186455292
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/185673679
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/183822178
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/185524086
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/183639684
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/183271551
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/182518957
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/181301581
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/181000203

TAUROTRAGUS ORYX

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/106423609
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/115207648
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/113743011
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/77094002
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61026612
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/44146771
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/98480195
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/44116265
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/70331422
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/103712571
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/29268023
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/23928468

Publicado el 12 de octubre de 2023 a las 03:58 PM por milewski