Omnivorous animals: what they are, adaptations, examples

omnivorous animals (from latin omni, which means all) are animals who feed so much on plants or seaweed like other animals. Humans are examples of omnivorous animals, as our food includes items of animal and plant origin.

the omnivorespresent adaptations that guarantee the mixed diet. In vertebrates, for example, we can observe the presence of dentition that allows efficiency in consumption of products from different origins. In addition to human beings, they are examples of omnivorous animals opork, mouse, ostrich and cockroach.

Read too: food chain and web

Evolutionary adaptations to the omnivorous habit

Omnivorous animals have a diet composed of animals as well as plants or algae. Therefore, they present aadapted digestive system to a mixed diet.

Pigs are examples of omnivorous animals.

When we analyze the teeth of herbivorous vertebrates, we verified molars and premolars developed, what helps in food crushing. In some herbivores, the canines are not present and, in other species, the incisors

and canines they are modified in order to ensure that this animal is able to eat food of plant origin.

You carnivores they usually have developed incisors and canines, which are essential for capturing and killing their prey. In omnivorous animals, in turn, we have a kind of combination of these dentitions, and it is possible to observe:

• incisors, which ensure the bite;

• canines, which help to tear up food;

• molars and premolars, which help in crushing.

The size of the digestive tract also differs in different species of vertebrate animals. Generally speaking, the digestive system of herbivores and omnivores is longer than that of carnivores. This is due à difficulty in digesting products of vegetable origin, which require a longer digestion time, which is guaranteed by a long digestive tract.

We must also not forget that invertebrates can also have omnivorous habits. You insects with this type of food, for example, they present teething and chewing mouthparts.

What is the position of omnivores in a food web?

Omnivorous animals can occupy different positions when we analyze a food web.This is due to the fact that they have a diet that includes different foods. When feeding on plants or algae, for example, omnivorous animals behave as primary consumers, as they are ingesting producing organisms. By feeding on herbivores, they behave like secondary consumers because they feed on primary consumers. They can even feed on secondary consumers and be classified as tertiary consumers and so on.

When we eat vegetables, we behave like primary consumers. When we feed on primary consumers (herbivores), we act as secondary consumers.

We realized, therefore, that, unlike plants and algae, which always act as producers, and herbivores, which behave as primary consumers, omnivorous animals can occupy different positions because they have a more diversified feeding habit. Thus, we must observe what that animal is ingesting to confirm with certainty its position in the food chain.

Read too: Autotrophic and Heterotrophic Organisms

Examples of omnivorous animals

When we talk about omnivorous animals, we soon remember the human beings. Our diet includes foods of animal origin, such as beef and pork, and foods of plant origin, such as vegetables and fruits. Both animal and vegetable foods provide nutrients that ensure our development. Therefore, the exclusion of one of these groups can cause damage if done without monitoring. Another animal that stands out for the omnivorous diet is the Guara wolf, that feeds on arthropods, small vertebrates and fruits such as the wolf. As an example of invertebrates, we can mention The cockroaches, what they feed on virtually any food.

The maned wolf is an omnivorous animal, as it feeds on animals and vegetables.

In addition to the animals already mentioned, they are other examples of omnivorous animals:

• Theostrich;

• Bagre;

• çegg;

• grile;

• jvulture;

• thereamber;

• fororc;

• ract;

• urso.

By Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Biology teacher