Which term describes an animal with multiple stomach compartments?

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

Answer: (A)

Think about how some herbivores break down tough plant material. A ruminant has a stomach divided into several compartments that house microbes to ferment cellulose. This fermentation lets the animal extract energy from fibrous food and often involves regurgitating and re-chewing food (cud) to improve breakdown. Because the question describes an animal with multiple stomach compartments, the best term is ruminant. Monogastric refers to a single-chamber stomach, while carnivore and omnivore describe diet patterns rather than stomach structure, and many of them still have a simple, single stomach.