Final answer:
Animals with a single-chambered stomach and an extended small intestine have a monogastric digestive system, similar to humans. The stomach uses acids and enzymes for digestion, followed by the small intestine, where most nutrients are absorbed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The inquiry pertains to the type of digestive system based on an analysis of the stomach and intestinal structure of an animal. A monogastric digestive system, as the name implies, features a single-chambered stomach. Animals with such a system, including humans, typically have an extended small intestine where the majority of chemical digestion and nutrient absorption takes place. By discovering that the dissected specimen has this type of digestive system, scientists could infer that it is closely related to other monogastric organisms such as humans, pigs, or dogs.
The stomach's primary function is to use gastric juices, including hydrochloric acid and pepsin, to begin the digestion of proteins, while mechanical digestion is facilitated through muscle contractions known as peristalsis. After the stomach, the food moves into the small intestine where further digestion occurs thanks to enzymes from the liver, pancreas, and small intestine itself. Nutrients are then absorbed through the epithelial cells lining the intestinal walls.