FACULTES DIGESTIVES DU DROMADAIRE FACE AUX CONTRAINTES ALIMENTAIRE DU MILIEU SAHARIEN

Abstract

The Sahara is characterized by extremely harsh and very restrictive conditions of soil and climate not allowing the development as a cover adapted flora (lignified plants, halophytes, tough ...). In this environment with scarce resources, the dromedary express remarkable capacity to adapt himself to make the best use of available resources Saharan ecosystems. In fact it happens to survive, reproduce and even to produce (meat, milk etc ....) In an extensivefarming method based entirely on the exploitation of these natural Saharan pasture. This work is a synthesis of different characteristics digestive, behavioral and food of this species all of which gives meaning to the concept of adaptability of camels to desert ecosystems. These faculties of adaptation can be declined into two types of strategy: (i) a physiological strategy (storage, economic losses, recycling), (ii) a behavioral strategy (ambulatory pasture spacing periods of watering, plant selection,plant diversity of the diet). These strategies, together with the anatomical peculiarities of the animal (flexible foot involving a small trampling, long neck allowing access to the upper layers of vegetation) make an animal with low environmental impact.