Omnivore
Omnivores, omnivores (from Latin omnis "all" and vorare "to eat") or pantophagous (from ancient Greek πᾶν pan "all" [genitive παντός pantos] and φαγεῖν phagein "to eat") are animals whose diet is composed of diverse fare from plants and animals. A more general definition of omnivory is that a species feeds on organisms of different trophic levels-for example, primary producers (plants) and consumers (animals). Omnivores are food generalists because they have no special dietary requirements and thus can utilize extremely diverse organic matter such as meat or plants, which can give them advantages over species that specialize in a particular food.
The "omnivorous dentition" is characterized by bunodont teeth, molars that have cusps. If there are four cusps, the teeth are oligobunodont (ὀλίγος olígos "little"), if there are more cusps they are polybunodont (πολύς polýs "much").
Omnivores are not a taxonomic group, but include various unrelated species. Typical representatives are, for example, rats, pigs and humans. Bears, which belong to the order of carnivores (Carnivora), are also predominantly omnivorous.
Omnivory is not always intentional. For example, when cows eat grass, they inevitably ingest herbivorous insects that are mined in the grass. Strictly speaking, cows and other grazers are therefore not pure herbivores (plant eaters), but omnivores. However, many herbivores supplement their diets specifically with animal foods that are higher in protein than plant foods. For example, some herbivorous insects are cannibalistic in their early development.
In theoretical models, omnivory has long been considered destabilizing for predator-prey population systems. The presence of omnivorous species in predator-prey models was highly likely to lead to species extinction. However, this was contrasted with the abundance of omnivory in natural systems. If the models were correct, however, omnivory should be rare. More recent studies with more realistic models then also showed that omnivory does not necessarily lead to higher extinction rates.
Many bear species, such as the black bear, are typical omnivores.
Although they generally hunt a lot, red foxes also feed on berries and similar plant parts, making them omnivores as well.
See also
- Carnism
Questions and Answers
Q: What is an omnivore?
A: An omnivore is an animal that eats a variety of foods, including plants, animals, algae, fungi, and bacteria to get its energy and nutrients.
Q: What are life-history omnivores?
A: Life-history omnivores are omnivores whose eating habits change during their life cycle.
Q: What is an example of a life-history omnivore?
A: Grazing waterfowl like geese are an example of a life-history omnivore as they eat mainly animals at one stage of their lives, but plants at another.
Q: Do all omnivores eat the same amount of plants and animals?
A: No, not all omnivores eat the same amount of plants and animals. Some may eat more of one than the other, depending on their preferences and dietary needs.
Q: Can insects be omnivores?
A: Yes, insects can be omnivores. An example is the beetle family Meloidae which eats animal tissue when they are larvae, but eats plant matter after they mature.
Q: Do omnivores get all their nutrients from their food?
A: Yes, omnivores get their energy and nutrients from a diet comprising of plants, animals, algae, fungi, and bacteria.
Q: Why is it important to understand omnivores?
A: It is important to understand omnivores because they play a vital role in the food chain as both consumers and prey. Understanding their eating habits helps maintain a balance in the ecosystem.
