Animal Feeding Categories
CARNIVORES - Animals that eat other animals
The characteristics in common amongst carnivores are that these animals live on protein diets - and have an excellent sense of smell.  Each has its own physical characteristic - sharp teeth / beaks for biting, gripping and tearing flesh, and claws for grasping, stabbing and shredding.  Carnivores tend to be agile and fast with strong, powerful bodies.

  • Carnivores relying solely on animal flesh for their nutrient requirements are considered obligate carnivores
  • Carnivores that also consume non-animal food are considered facultative carnivores

              There are different types of feeding strategies for meat eaters.  Here are some examples:
Avivore
  • Bird eaters ... Falcons
Insectivore
  • Insect eaters ... Spiders
Piscivore
  • Fish eaters ... Sea Lions 
Sanguinovre
  • Blood suckers ...  Vampire Bats
Scavengers
  • Dead animals ... Vultures
HERBIVORES - Animals that eat plants
Herbivores are gentle creatures that eat plants.  As plants are not high in fat and protein, herbivores have to eat a great deal in order to maintain their bodies.  Animals that eat the most nutritious parts of plants - nuts, seeds and fruit) may only eat a modest amount, but animals that eat low-quality plants or parts of plants - grass , bark and leaves, have to eat a great deal to stay healthy. Herbivores spend much time foraging for their food and have to eat regularly to keep up their energy.

                                                  The feeding strategies for herbivores are:
Foliovores
  • Leaf eaters ...  Koalas 
Frugavores
  • Fruit eaters ... Fruit Bats
Granivores
  • Grain eaters ... Parrots and Pigeons
Graminivore
  • Grain eaters ... Cattle
Mucivores
  • Plant fluid consumers  ...  Aphids
Nectavores
  • Nectar consumers ...  Honey Possum
Palynivore
  • Pollen eaters ...  Bees 
Xycophages
  • Wood eaters ... Termites
OMNIVORES - Animals that eat both other animals and plants
Omnivores eat both plants and animal matter and have. therefore, more sources of food available.  Some omnivores include:

*   Bears     *    Turtles     *    Squirrels     *     Monkeys, Apes and Baboons     *     Rats     *    Badgers