Table 1.

Fractional absorption (f), or bioavailability, of metabolically inert carbohydrate probe molecules in intact birds and mammals

Species		Body mass, g	Probe	f	Source
Common name	Scientific name
Broad-tailed hummingbird	Selasphorus platycercus	3.5	l-glucose	0.59	51
Yellow-rumped warbler	Dendroica coronata	12	l-glucose	0.91	52
House sparrow*	Passer domesticus	25	l-rhamnose	0.64	21
House sparrow	Passer domesticus	25	l-glucose	0.603	35
House sparrow	Passer domesticus	25	Mannitol	0.63	53
American robin	Turdus migratorius	70	l-glucose	0.92	36
Rainbow lorikeet	Trichoglossus haematodus	125	l-glucose	0.8	54
Northern bobwhite	Colinus virginianus	150	l-glucose	0.7	55
Rock dove*	Columba livia	300	l-rhamnose	0.39	39
American coot*	Fulica americana	542	l-rhamnose	0.17	This study
Ring-necked pheasant*	Phasianus colchicus	900	l-rhamnose	0.14	This study
Mallard*	Anas platyrhynchos	1,200	l-rhamnose	0.22	This study
Great fruit-eating bat	Artibeus lituratus	70	l-rhamnose	0.90	56
Egyptian fruit bat	Rousettus aegyptiacus	125	l-rhamnose	0.62	37
White laboratory mouse*	Mus musculus	30	l-rhamnose	0.193	This study
Hamster	Mesocricetus auratus	156	l-rhamnose	0.0235	57
Hamster	Mesocricetus auratus	156	Mannitol	0.0117	57
Galea*	Galea galea	247	l-rhamnose	0.22	This study
Laboratory rat*	Rattus norvegicus	300	l-rhamnose	0.134	39, 57
Laboratory rat	Rattus norvegicus	300	Mannitol	0.056	This study, 57–62
Common marmoset*	Callithrix jacchus	370	l-rhamnose	0.302	63
Guinea pig	Cavia aperea	980	l-rhamnose	0.064	57
Guinea pig	Cavia aperea	980	Mannitol	0.054	57, 58
Cat	Felis domesticus	2,800	Mannitol	0.285	58
Rabbit	Oryctolagus cunciculus	3,000	Mannitol	0.021	58
Rhesus macaque*	Macaca mulatta	8,912	l-rhamnose	0.082	This study
Dog	Canis familiaris	12,875	l-rhamnose	0.168	64
Human	Homo sapiens	70,000	l-rhamnose	0.118	57, 65–76
Human	Homo sapiens	70,000	Mannitol	0.218	57, 58, 71, 75, 77–82

The 10 focal species of birds and nonflying mammals measured during this study are indicated by *.