What is a common characteristic of ruminant animals?

Ruminant animals are characterized by their unique digestive system, which includes a specialized stomach composed of four compartments: the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum. This structure enables them to ferment food, particularly plant materials like grasses and legumes, before it is digested. The fermentation process is crucial as it allows ruminants to break down complex carbohydrates and fiber that would be indigestible to non-ruminant animals. Through microbial fermentation, ruminants can extract nutrients more efficiently from fibrous plant materials, which is a defining trait of their physiology and ecology. This ability to ferment food is what enables them to thrive on high-fiber diets, making it a foundational aspect of their classification and feeding habits.