Herbivorous animals - Examples and curiosities

Do you want to know some examples of herbivorous animals? Know their classification? In this article of Animals and Pets Online we explain to you which are the herbivorous animals with examples and curiosities more frequent, their characteristics and some details about their behavior.

Remember that herbivorous animals or phytophagous animals they are those that feed primarily on plants , not only on grass, and are considered the "primary consumers." Find out all about herbivorous animals below:

How do you define a herbivorous animal?

A herbivorous animal would be one whose diet is exclusively vegetable , with plants and herbs being the main ingredients thereof.The fundamental component of vegetables is cellulose, a carbohydrate or very complex carbohydrate.This carbohydrate or carbohydrate is very difficult to digest , but nature, over millions of years of evolution, has developed different strategies for its use.

How is cellulose digested?

Herbivorous animals can take advantage of cellulose thanks to two actions or digestions: mechanical digestion , due to a special, flat-shaped denticion that allows plants to be crushed; and the other is due to the action of the microorganisms that they have in their digestive system.These microorganisms, through fermentation, are capable of transforming cellulose into simpler products, the main one being glucose.

What types of herbivorous animals exist?

There are two large groups: polygastric and monogastric .As the name implies, the first are those with several stomachs (in reality it is a single stomach with several compartments they communicate with each other).In some of the compartments there is a high concentration of microorganisms capable of fermenting cellulose.The teeth are also quite special, since they have a flat shape and in the upper jaw there are no incisors.An example of these would be those that have two fish, also known as ruminants.They also have the peculiarity of being able to regurgitate part of the gastric content to be able to chew or ruminate again.An example of these are cattle, goats and sheep .

Monogastrics are those that have only one stomach, so fermentations develop elsewhere in the digestive system.It would be the case of the horse and rabbit.In this case, there is a great development the blind person is between the end of the small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine, reaching considerable development.In monogastric herbivorous animals there is no possibility of rumination and, in the case of the equines , they only have one fish and have incisors in the upper jaw.

In the case of rabbits (lagomorphs), the products resulting from the fermentations of the blind are expelled through the feces.These "special" feces are known as cecotrophs and are ingested by the same rabbits to be able to take advantage of all the nutrients they contain.These, in turn, also have a very special dental development, with the presence of continuously growing teeth ( the lower and upper incisors).

What are the most important herbivores? How do they behave?

Although they have already been noted, the most important are the bovidos (cows), the sheep (sheep) and goats (goats).In the case of monogastrics, there are liquids, rodents and lagomorphs (rabbits).

Most of them like to live in a group or herd (they are gregarious) and are considered as prey.That is why the position of their eyes is very lateralized (so they can see who is chasing them without turning their heads) and, also, they tend to have a tendency to escape and scary.

List of herbivorous animals: monogastric

Within the monogastrics would be:

Equids

Horses
Asses
Zebras

Rodents

Hamsteres
Guinea pigs
Chinchilla
Capybaras
Beavers
Maras
Coipus
Bales
Porcupine
Squirrels

Other

Rhinos
Elephants
Tapires
Rabbits

List of herbivorous animals: polyigastric

Within the polyigastric would be:

Bovidos

Cows
Cebus
Yaks
Asian buffaloes
Nus
Brown buffaloes
Gazelles
Bisons

Sheep

Muflones
Sheep

Goats

Domestic goats
Hispanic goats
Mountain goats

Cervidos

Red deer
Gamos
Elk
Reindeer
Caribues

Camelids

Camels
Dromedaries
Llamas
Alpacas
Vicunas

If you want to read more articles similar to Herbivorous animals-Examples and curiosities , we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.

Comments

How to interpret a blood test in dogs?

Sometimes when our dog becomes sick or is turning years old, it is It is necessary and advisable to perform different tests, among which the blood test stands out, because it allows to obtain a lot of information in a short time and in a relatively economical way. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we are going to explain how to interpret a blood test in dogs .To do this we will comment on the most important parameters that are assessed in this test, as well as the diseases that can indicate their alterations. The importance of complete blood analysis in dogs Blood collection for analysis is a very common and important technique in all veterinary clinics.It is normal for the sample to be taken from the front leg but, in certain cases, blood can be drawn from the hind legs or even from the neck. Many clinics already have the necessary devices to analyze the blood in the clinic itself, thus being able to obtain the results of the basic parameters in a few minutes Th...

Distribution of the wild cat in Spain

The wildcat in Spain is distributed in the most recondite, rugged and lonely forest areas of our peninsula.It is an animal that is very negatively influenced by the proximity of the human being. The proliferation of urbanizations throughout the Spanish territory has pushed back the habitat of this beautiful wild feline.In this article Animals and Pets Online I will discover some places where this jewel of nature is still found. Discover the distribution of the wildcat in Spain , yes, never with the intention of harming the species, rather as a tool to enjoy the wild animals that still inhabit the peninsula. Personal experience A few years ago I was riding a bike through a very secluded forest, close to the tiny town of Espoya.Pueblo next to Capellades, in the province of Barcelona, I stumbled upon leaving a bend in a stony path with a wild cat perched on a thick and thick tree . I hope the big cat got scared as much as I did, which I guess lost a few months of life as a ...

Tips for training a schnauzer

If you are thinking of hosting a schnauzer or if you already have one living with you, It is vital to know his character, what are his qualities and what is the best way to educate him since childhood.This way, you will get an adult to be a balanced, sociable and happy dog. For this reason, in This article of Animals and Pets Online we are going to give you several keys and tips to train a schnauzer correctly.In spite of his strong personality, it is easy to teach them the basics if we know how to do it.So, keep reading and you will know better this canine breed and both you will enjoy your company to the fullest. Schnauzer Features This breed is native to Germany and there are several sizes, so we can find miniature, medium or giant schnauzer.All of them are characterized by a fur with a softer inner layer and a rough and colored outer layer black and silver, salt and pepper, black or white.Also, something that differentiates this breed easily is the eyebrows, beard and very de...

Biography of Laika, the astronaut dog

Even if we are not aware of it, on many occasions the advances made by the being human would not be possible without the participation of animals, unfortunately, many times this participation is fruitful only for us.Surely it resonates the fact that a dog traveled to space , but where did it come from, as was prepared for this experience, what was the outcome? In this article of Animals and Pets Online we want to name this brave dog and discover all its history, the biography of Laika, the astronaut bitch . Laika, a mixed race host for an experiment The United States and the Soviet Union were in full space race , but at some point along this path they had to reflect on what the consequences would be for a human being if he left this planet himself. This uncertainty posed many risks, enough not to be assumed by any human being in the first instance, therefore, for the evaluation and knowledge of themselves it was decided to experiment with animals . There were several s...

Why is my dog afraid of loud noises?

Dogs are owners of a privileged hearing that allows them to recognize a large number of sounds, even at considerable distances.This adaptive capacity was essential for the survival of the species, allowing it to avoid exposing itself to threats and predators, in addition to having greater success in its hunt.It is perfectly natural for a dog to startle in front of loud or violent noises , and want to hide or run away to preserve its well-being.Is it an adaptive response of the organism. Do you wonder why your dog is afraid of loud noises? You have reached the right place! In this article of Animals and Pets Online, we will explain the main causes of this canine behavior and how you can reassure a scared dog and how to remove fear. My dog is afraid of loud noises, why? The hearing of dogs is more sensitive than that of humans and can capture an impressive range of frequencies and vibrations.It is natural that your dog is very alert when it is outdoors and perceives...

Rabbits with obesity - Detection and Diet

Rabbits or Oryctolagus cuniculus are, within the small mammals, of which they have more tendency to gain weight.That is why it is not so strange that a domestic rabbit ends up being obese. In fact, many people with pets tend to show carinos aestas with excesses that many Sometimes they manifest themselves in the form of food, but we must bear in mind that excess food is never healthy and less if it is a different type of food than the basic one. If you have a rabbit or you plan to adopt To one, find out about rabbits with obesity, detection and diet that we must offer to improve their health. What is obesity? Obesity is excess weight in the form of fat in the body.It occurs in animals that are prone to it genetically and/or by their lifestyle. In addition to being a problem in itself, it aggravates or accelerates other possible diseases over time.Other more direct effects of obesity are loss of agility, joint wear, exhaustion and increased sleep among many others. Obesity ...

How to make my dog gain weight

Although obesity is a problem too common in dogs today, There are also dogs with the opposite problem: your dog may be skinny because he does not eat enough, because it burns a lot of energy or because it comes from a place where it was not treated and fed correctly. Help your dog to have a healthy weight is an important task for dog owners, but a dog that is too thin is a delicate problem and making him take weight can be a difficult task, do not worry there are solutions for your dog to climb of weight. In this article of Animals and Pets Online, we will explain how to make your dog gain weight. Consult your veterinarian The first thing if your dog is thin is to ask your veterinarian to do a complete physical exam of your dog.Many diseases can cause weight loss and loss of appetite: diabetes , a cancer, a hepatitis or a digestive problem can cause weight loss.If your dog has a disease, it is important to diagnose it as soon as possible to treat and improve it. Also thi...

POISONING IN DOGS - SYMPTOMS AND FIRST AID

If you have dogs or plan to include one in the family, surely you are interested This article of Animals and Pets Online where we are going to deal with a very important topic that we must know to be able to preserve the health of our dog and, even, save his life in case of an accident.It is about poisoning, because it is easier than it may seem to us that our can come into contact with some toxic substance for him. We know that the canids in general are very curious, careless and some clumsiness, especially the puppies, so we must be careful, watch them whenever we can and Be informed about poisoning in dogs, their symptoms and first aid.We hope you never need to act as we will explain, but if so, keep calm to be effective and read carefully. Main causes of dog poisoning and tips to prevent them We can avoid situations in which our faithful friend may be injured or poisoned by accident.We will do so by keeping potentially dangerous things out of reach safely in the high shelves...

Hair loss in dogs

Although it may seem less important than other aspects of their health, the truth is that the hair Our dog also requires regular care, as it fulfills fundamental functions for animal welfare .Therefore we must pay attention to its appearance and take into account that hair loss in dogs It can be a warning, by alerting us to various health problems or, simply, the need to improve some aspects such as feeding. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will explain more common causes of hair loss in dogs and the different types of treatments that exist.Remember that if your dog is losing hair it will be essential to go to a veterinary clinic and consult a veterinarian entitled. The importance of hair in the dog Dogs have three types of hair , which are the following: Primary hairs : they are those that they form the outer part of the mantle and have the ability to bristle. Secondary hairs : they are the members of the inner fur and are responsible for providing prot...

Do bulls feel pain? - Various studies indicate that yes

By briefly observing a celebration in which they are used bulls or heifers we can observe that the animal is not demonstrating its habitual behavior, it is altered, scared, whether or not it seeks an escape route, it is not calm.In its body a series of processes are being carried out that warn of a potential damage. Any new situation, even if it is not dangerous, can cause stress to an animal that has never experienced that specific situation, so simply by riding a transport truck to a bull, either in the direction of the slaughterhouse, the square or the street, it provokes a response of stress and fear.Bulls suffer in confinements and not only because of the injuries they may suffer. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will analyze if the bulls feel pain and how they are able to bear it during the fight. What is the pain? The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual o...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog