Herbivorous animals are organisms that feed on autotrophic beings, that’s, those who produce their very own meals, similar to vegetation, algae and a few micro organism.
Herbivores play a vital position within the meals chain, as they’re the first shoppers. They’re chargeable for offering the nutritional vitamins and vitality current in vegetation to carnivores.
Moreover, within the case of some bugs, they management some plant populations by interfering with their development charge.
It’s believed that the variety of herbivores represents roughly 50% of the world’s fauna.
Examples
Some herbivorous animals are: bee, tapir, butterfly, ox, cow, antelope, sheep, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, giraffe, kangaroo, zebra, deer, elephant, gorilla, horse , goat, buffalo, panda bear, camel, rabbit, guinea pig, some bats, amongst others.
Classification
Herbivores are animals that feed on autotrophic major producers, vegetation. Keep in mind that vegetation are on the base of the meals chain.
What differentiates herbivores is the kind of meals they eat. See the classification:
- Folivores: animals that feed on leaves. Examples: rabbit, hoatzin, sloth, koala, iguana.
- Frugivores: animals that feed on fruit. Examples: toucan, tanager, araçari, bat, tapir, opossum.
- Granivores: animals that feed on plant seeds and grains. Examples: hen, macaw, parrot.
- Nectarivores: animals that feed on plant nectar. Examples: bees, butterflies, cerrado bats.
- Pollinivores: animals that feed on flower pollen. Examples: spiders, rodents, bats, marsupials and a few birds.
Herbivores play a vital position within the steadiness of the ecosystem , as they take part within the pollination of vegetation, similar to nectarivores and pollinivores.
Additionally they act in seed dispersal, by way of frugivorous and granivorous animals.
On this method, along with controlling plant biomass, herbivores make sure the distribution and abundance of vegetation in ecological communities.
On the identical time, herbivores function meals for different shoppers within the meals chain , permitting the circulate of vitamins and vitality.
Additionally find out about Autotrophic and Heterotrophic Beings .
Options
- Canine enamel with out suggestions
- Flat molar enamel
- Barely elongated jaw
- Perspiration by way of the pores
- Disadvantaged of claws
- Alkaline saliva and urine
- Great amount of ptyalin (enzyme current in saliva)
- Abdomen divided into 03 or 04 compartments
Classification based mostly on weight-reduction plan
Animals have several types of classifications, considered one of which is predicated on the kind of weight-reduction plan they’ve.
On this method, animals are categorised into:
- Herbivores: These are those who feed on plant sources.
- Omnivores : These are animals that feed on each plant and animal sources. These animals have a really different weight-reduction plan. Examples: bear, bat, maned wolf, tortoise, pig, coati, fox, opossum, chimpanzee, crow, seagull, rhea, ostrich and rat.
- Carnivores : These are those who feed predominantly on the meat of different animals. Examples: canine, cat, wolf, fox, seal, walrus, lion, hyena, falcon, hawk, owl, shark, whale, dolphin, tiger, cheetah, leopard, jaguar, alligator, octopus, penguin, pelican, stork, heron, boa constrictor, anaconda, sea turtle, frog and scorpion.
Learn additionally about:
- Capybara ;
- Rabbits ;
- Animal Kingdom;
- Workouts on meals chain ;
- Ruminant animals .