A creature that consumes mostly or exclusively fish or aquatic animals is called a piscivore. There are several animals that fall into this category, such as: puffins, whales, dolphins, flat-headed cats, and otters, to name a few.
A folivore primarily eats leaves. They seldom, if at all, eat anything else. These types of critters typically have a very slow metabolism and also move slower to save energy, as their diet doesn’t provide much nutrition. Some animals that fall into this category are: koalas, sloths, and pandas, to […]
A creature that is frugivorous feeds exclusively on various types of fruit. These critters fall into the herbivore category. Some examples of frugivores are: fruit bats, the maned wolf, sparrows, and more.
Coming from the Latin term omnis (meaning all or everything) and vorare (meaning to eat or devour), omnivores are animals that consume plant and animal matter. Some animals that fit into this category are pigs, dogs, coatis, bears, hedgehogs, chimpanzees, and more.
Animals that eat mostly or exclusively grass, shrubs, seeds, and nuts are called herbivores. This category can also be broken down into subgroups too. Critters that fall into this category are: cows, elk, buffalo, sheep, goats, and many rodents, to name a few.
A creature that feeds primarily or exclusively on animal matter is called a carnivore. Some animals that fall into this category are: crocodiles, birds of prey, and sharks, to name a few.
Animals hatched or born in an undeveloped state that require care and feeding by one or both of the parents is called altricial. Some examples are: owls, marsupials, cats, dogs, and rodents.
An animal that is hatched or born in an advanced state and able to feed itself almost immediately is called precocial. Some examples are snakes, lizards, ducks, horses, and deer.
Endotherms are warm-blooded animals. These animals maintain an internal body temperature that differs from the surrounding environment. Birds, mammals, and even some fish are endothermic. If heat loss exceeds heat generation, the individual’s metabolism increases to make up the loss or they will shiver to increase its body temperature.
An ectotherm is an animal who regulates their body temperature via external sources, like sunlight or a heated stone’s surface. Some ectotherms include: fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. The body temperature of an ectotherm is typically close to that of the temperature of the surrounding air or water.