Omnivorous Animals: what they are, examples and characteristics

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Omnivorous animals are those that feed on vegetable and animal sources, that is, an omnivore has a very varied diet.

The origin of the word omnivore comes from Latin and means the union of the terms "omnis" and "virus" which means "one who eats everything".

Because the omnivorous animal has a diversified diet, it is common to be classified as a predator.

Examples of omnivorous animals

See below a list with 10 omnivorous animals.

1. Ostrich

Ostrich
The ostrich is a bird that does not have the ability to fly

The ostrich is considered one of the largest birds on the planet and does not have the ability to fly due to its structure and body weight.

It is found in several places around the world due to its resistance to environments with desert region.

This bird has a complex digestive system and its diet is mainly based on insects, small animals, grasses and seeds.

2. Chimpanzee

Chimpanzee
The chimpanzee resembles the human being by its behavior

The chimpanzee is a mammal that is very similar to human beings, mainly because of its behavior.

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Their food has a lot of variety, as they usually consume seeds, leaves, insect larvae and ants.

3. squirrel

squirrel
The squirrel is an omnivorous animal and has a varied diet.

The squirrel is a mammal that is characterized by its habit of eating seeds such as walnuts, hazelnuts and fruits holding the hands and gnawing until the end.

In addition to these foods, the squirrel also supplements its diet with small animals, so it is considered an omnivore.

They can be found in different parts of the world, as they have the ability to adapt and develop strategies to live in specific places.

4. Seagull

Seagull
The seagull is a seabird that feeds mainly on fish.

Gulls are water birds because they have the ability to swim. Given this particularity, its main habitat are coastal regions.

Their food is mainly made from fish hunted directly from the sea. In addition, they also feed on animal remains and eggs from other animals.

5. Shrimp

shrimp
The possum is a marsupial known for eating everything

Opossums are animals known for their strong smell and resistance to places with poor hygiene. They are marsupials related to kangaroos.

The opossum's diet is very varied as it does not have any type of restriction, thus consuming dead animals, insects, fruits, cereals, among other things.

6. Tortoise

tortoise
The tortoise is a land animal

The tortoise is an animal often confused with the turtle, but the difference is in the place where they live.

It is a terrestrial reptile, whereas the turtle spends much of its time in water.

The tortoise's diet is diversified, as it consumes insects, leaves, flowers and seeds. Thus, this animal is considered very important in seed dissemination.

7. Guara wolf

Guara wolf
The maned wolf is a mammal that consumes animals and vegetables

The maned wolf is a mammal easily found in central Brazil, especially in the Cerrado. It is listed as endangered.

Its food is varied between fruits and animals such as rodents, birds, lizards, snakes and insects.

8. Bat

Bat
Bats are mammals that can fly

The bat is the only mammal capable of flying. They live in caves and are known for their taste for blood, so there is a myth that they suck blood from humans.

Its food is made up of fruits and flowers, as well as small insects.

9. Hedgehog

Hedgehog
The porcupine feeds on the remains of other animals, in addition to fruit

The porcupine is a rodent known for its defense strategy, which is to throw thorns at its predator.

They live in different regions of the world. Their diet is varied and usually consumes the remains of animals found in the forest, as well as roots, fruits and tree bark, as they have sharp teeth.

10. bear

Brown bear
The brown bear can be found in several climatic regions.

The bear is a mammal considered omnivorous because it feeds on animals, on the vegetation of the place it lives, on fruits and roots.

It is a large animal and lives in different climates and regions of the world, thus influencing its diet.

Read more about:

  • Polar Bear
  • The 10 biggest predators in the animal kingdom

Characteristics of omnivorous animals

Omnivorous animals participate in several food chains as they can be classified as primary, secondary or tertiary consumers.

Other characteristics that omnivorous animals have are:

  • Short incisor teeth;
  • Long, curved canine teeth;
  • Sharp or flat molar teeth;
  • Reduced facial muscles;
  • Sharp nails;
  • They do not have digestive enzymes in saliva;
  • acidic stomach pH;
  • Short small intestine;
  • Concentrated urine.

Expand your knowledge about animal feeding and read about:

  • Herbivorous Animals
  • autotrophs and heterotrophs

Curiosities about omnivorous animals

Some animals that eat meat sporadically cannot be considered omnivores. This is because the animal is classified as an omnivore only when its main food source has an animal and a plant.

An example of this is we humans, who consume meat and vegetables to maintain a balanced diet.

Another curiosity is that the human being is considered an omnivorous animal, however, with a digestive system differentiated. That is, our stomach has a low pH and the intestine is long, similar to herbivorous animals.

Learn more about endangered and extinct animals on the planet:

  • Endangered Animals in Brazil
  • Endangered Animals in the World
  • Endangered Animals in the Amazon Forest
  • Extinct Animals in Brazil
  • Extinct animals
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