An herbivore is an animal which feeds almost exclusively on plants. Often it is a grazer as the horse, or a climber as a panda, but they are not predators.
In mammals herbivores, teeth are made to crush and grind the plant so that it can be digested. Certain herbivores are regurgitators, they partially digest plants and then regurgitate them later to eat again and digest fully.
The herbivore is not always a mammal, most insects also consume exclusively plants. Of herbivores, Insects are often a bigger problem for man because they destroy crops if their number if their population is large.
Animals with hooves are usually herbivores, as with cattle, thier hooves are not intended to capture prey. The vast majority are going to reside in large groups to graze, and to run away according to the threat. Speed is one of means of protection of many animals, the horse is an excellent example. In the case of the bison, it is it's impressive weight and horns on the head which can save it.
The insect herbivores destroys plants, flowers, roots, or leaves according to its adaptation. They can ravage a garden easily if there are enough. The cockchafer destroys roots and kills the plant which cannot stock up any more with water. The termite, with wood, is going to dig tunnels under the bark of trees, and will eventually kill it.
Omnivores can digest plant material as well, but not like a cow which is exclusively an herbivore. The bowel of the herbivore is specialized to digest more correctly the vegetation which it absorbs as food.
Naturally, the herbivore is placed higher in the food chain, because it feeds on herb and is not a threat for other species. It does not hunt and is primarily the prey of the carnivorous animals. |
