Animals of the same species that lived thousands of kilometres away from each other also tended to have the same kinds of bacteria in their gut.
According to Gordon's team, the findings could help explain the evolutionary success of mammals, particularly plant eaters such as cattle and giraffes that flourished over the last 2 million years after a large increase in grassland habitats.
"If animals from an omnivorous background have moved into a more herbivorous lifestyle they have absolutely needed bacterial partners and microbes to allow that to happen," said Gordon.
Source-ANI
RAS/K