Herbivore - Definition and Overview

In zoology, an herbivore is an animal that is adapted to eat primarily plants (rather than meat). Thus, while humans may choose not to eat meat, such individuals are vegetarians, not herbivores. A true herbivore, such as a cow, is unable to chew or digest meat. However, many herbivores will eat eggs and occasionally other animal protein, such as bugs.

Some herbivores can be classified as frugivores, which eat mainly fruit; or folivores, which specialize in eating leaves. This specialization is far from universal, however, and many fruit- and leaf-eating animals also eat other parts of plants, notably roots and seeds. The diets of some herbivorous animals vary with the seasons, especially in the temperate zones, where different plant foods are most available at different times of year. Here is a list below that includes animals that are unable to chew or digest animal matter.

Animals that are true herbivores

• Bovids
• Horses (including all members of the horse family such as domestic horses, donkeys, and zebras)
• Deer
• Elephants
• Some rodents such as guinea pigs, porcupines, beavers, and capybaras
• Rabbits
• Grasshoppers
• Snails and slugs

For a complete further list of herbivorous animals see list of herbivorous animals.

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