What is the classification of animals that have a stomach with four compartments?

Ruminant animals are classified by their unique digestive system, which features a stomach divided into four compartments: the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum. This specialized structure enables ruminants, such as cows, sheep, and deer, to efficiently break down fibrous plant materials through a process called rumination. During rumination, food is regurgitated, chewed again, and then swallowed for further digestion, allowing these animals to extract maximum nutrients from their plant-based diets.

Monogastric animals possess a single-chambered stomach, which does not provide the same level of efficiency in digesting fibrous foods. Omnivores, while they can consume both plant and animal matter, do not specifically have a four-compartment stomach; they are generally monogastric or can be classified differently. Herbivores broadly encompass animals that primarily eat plants, but not all herbivores are ruminants, as some may have simpler digestive systems. Therefore, the classification of ruminants specifically identifies the four-compartment stomach system, distinguishing them from other types of digestive systems found in different animal classifications.