OMNIVORE

Pigs are omnivores.

An omnivore (from Latin: omne all, everything; vorare to devour) is a species of animal who are "... generalized feeders, with neither carnivore nor herbivore specializations for acquiring or processing food, and who are capable of consuming and do consume both animal protein and vegetation."^[1]

[edit] Description

The teeth of omnivorous animals are less specialized than those of herbivores and carnivores. This is an important distinction because it allows them to do both grinding and tearing efficiently. The ability to do both is given by a mixture of sharp cutting teeth and flat grinding teeth. The human jaw structure is a well known example, as the incisors and canines are good for biting and the molars are good for grinding.

Omnivore is a species designation. Being an omnivorous species does not mean that all animals in a species are required to eat both meat and plants. It also does not mean that the animals eat equal amounts of meat and plants. Many wide-ranging and resilient species are omnivores, such as rats, raccoons and opossums.The Fire squirrel is also considered a omnivore

[edit] Uses

Being omnivorous, animals with this trait can live on different types of food as the availability changes throughout the year; especially if the food is unreliable to have as a diet. Grizzly bears, for example live on shrubs, berries and usually smaller mammals and animals until the salmon migration to mating grounds. The bears take advantage of this migration and store nutrition from the salmon before hibernating in winter. All omnivorous animals are by definition heterotrophs

[edit] As food

According to Islamic dietary laws most omnivores, such as pigs and other pork meats, dogs, and monkeys are forbidden to be eaten, the exception being fish and birds.

[edit] Species of omnivorous animals

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• Some fish
• Various mammals
  • Pigs
  • Bears
  • Many primates
  • Some rodents, including mice, rats, squirrels, and chipmunks
  • Opossums
  • Raccoons
  • Foxes
• Various birds
  • Rails
  • Rhea
  • Most gulls
  • Chickens
  • Crows
  • Domestic pigeons

[edit] Humans

It is still debated on whether or not humans are omnivores or herbivores. Some believe humans are omnivores^[1]. While others still claim humans are herbivores.^[2]

[edit] See also

[edit] Compare and contrast

• Carnivore
• Detritivore
• Herbivore
• Insectivore

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} McArdle, John. Humans are Omnivores. The Vegetarian Resource Group. Retrieved on 2006-06-03.
2. ^ Coleman, John. Humans are Herbivores. Retrieved on 2006-12-16.

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