Omnivore or omnivore refers to the group of living organisms that can consume and metabolize foods of both animal and vegetable origin.
You omnivorous animals they are classified as predators and have a digestive system adapted to metabolize different food classes. O being human is an example of an omnivorous animal, as it can feed on vegetables, meat, eggs and other types of food.
Among some of the main examples of omnivorous animals, highlighting: emu; ostrich; tortoise; pig; squirrel; mouse; Fox; bear; shrimp; between others.
Etymologically, the word "omnivorous" originated from the junction of two Latin terms: omnis and virus, which together means "the one who eats everything".
Learn more about the meaning of predator.
Characteristics of omnivorous animals
- Short incisor teeth;
- acid stomach pH;
- Concentrated urine;
- Short small intestine;
- Sharp nails;
- Long and short canine teeth;
- Reduced facial muscles;
- Sharp and flat molar teeth.
Carnivore, herbivore and omnivore
Carnivorous animals predominantly consume meat from other animals. Herbivores, on the other hand, feed exclusively on plant material, that is, foliage, plants, flowers, etc.
There are some visible differences between omnivorous, carnivorous and herbivorous animals. Carnivores, for example, tend to have more developed canine teeth than others. On the other hand, herbivores have more complex incisor teeth and molars compared to carnivores and omnivores.