Herbivores Facts

Table of Contents

• Facts about Herbivorous Animals
• Types of Herbivorous Animals
• Herbivorous Animals and the Food Chain
• Protection against Predators
• Digestion in Herbivorous Animals

Herbivorous animals are the primary consumers that feed on plants. Cows, giraffes, kangaroos, and zebras are a few herbivorous animals that feed on grass, vegetables, fruits, and plants.

Let us have a detailed look at the herbivorous animals and some interesting facts about them.

Herbivores are animals that feed on plants and fruits. The largest herbivore on earth is the African elephant. Rabbits, cows, deer and zebras are a few examples of herbivorous animals.

Herbivorous animals have wide, blunt teeth that help them to pull the plants from the ground. They possess the ability to regurgitate their food. This helps them to absorb most of the nutrients from the food. Butterflies and hummingbirds have mouth shaped like straw to suck nectar.

Herbivorous animals are of different types. Few of them feed on a variety of plants while some feed on a specific type of plant. Listed below are the types of herbivorous animals along with examples.

• The ones that feed only on fruits are called frugivores. Flying foxes and fruit bats are some frugivores.
• The animals that feed on leaves are called folivores. E.g. Panda, caterpillars, giraffes, koalas
• Herbivorous animals that feed on woods are called xylophages. E.g. Termites
• Nectivores are herbivores that feed on nectar. E.g. Butterflies
• The seed-eating herbivorous animals are called granivores. E.g. Pigeons

The herbivorous animals transport photosynthetic energy in the tropics system. They are known as primary consumers. But not all the energy present in the plants will be transferred to the herbivores. Only 10% of the energy is transferred to the primary consumers. That is why the number of herbivorous animals is less than the number of plants on earth. Similarly, the number of carnivorous animals is less than herbivores on earth.

Herbivorous animals has several adaptations to protect themselves from enemies. Some adaptations include:

• Turtles have hard shells that protect them against predators.
• A millipede curls itself in the shape of a ball and releases a noxious substance that causes irritation in the eyes and skin.
• A few herbivores change their colour to match the surroundings to protect themselves from predators.

Also Read: Carnivores and Herbivores

Herbivorous animals have broad and flat teeth that help to grind the cell wall of tough, fibrous plants. They do not contain the enzymes responsible for the breakdown of cellulose. They, therefore, digest the plants in either of the two ways:

1. Foregut fermentation
2. Hindgut fermentation

Foregut Fermentation: In this, the bacteria process the food and break it down before it is digested in the animal’s stomach. Such animals have several chambers in the stomach. This separates the bacteria from the acid-secreting part of the stomach and prolongs digestion so that it gets ample time for processing. These herbivorous animals are known as ruminants. Cows, kangaroos, etc. fall under this category.

Hindgut Fermentation: This process takes place in the latter part of the gut where the food is processed and broken down after digestion. Horses, elephants and zebras use hindgut fermentation.

Also Read: Difference between herbivores and carnivores

To know more about herbivorous animals and some interesting facts about them, keep visiting BYJU’S website or download BYJU’S app for further reference.

Further Reading:

Foster’s Rule