We have carried out histological studies of the gastrointestinal tract of Laotian rock rat Laonastes aenigmamus. Most of the inner surface of the stomach is a cardiac region having reduced glands. Generally the cardiac glands are located near the esophagus. The esophagus and the ventricular groove are lined by keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. The region containing fundic (proper gastric) glands occupies a small area of the stomach. The maximum thickness of the gastrointestinal wall has been determined for the hindstomach and duodenum. The minimum wall thickness has been determined for ileum, colon, and cecum. In the large intestine, the glands are weakly developed and this can mean that there is not an active digestion in this gut site. Our results confirm the fact that foregut fermentation is crucial in digestion for this rodent. The topography of the regions, occupied by different types of mucosa in the stomach, has a convergent similarity to ones that are found in ruminant-like marsupials and points to similar adaptations to the consumption of plant foods. Owing to the small body mass of the rodents, the distribution of foregut fermentation is exceptionally rare in evolutionary history.
We present the results of short ornithological observations conducted in November–December 2014 and December 2015 in the territory near Putao in northern Myanmar at elevations below 1,500m. We recorded 105 species, which were mostly resident birds, and evaluated the species abundance with a relative scale along tourist walking routes in the area. The bird species richness in the Mali Hka River Valley was observed to be less than in the adjacent virgin mountain forests. Our results could be used for future bird monitoring fieldworks.
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