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Herbivorous animals, not to be confused with vegetarians. Not even to joke: both could feel mutually offended. The herbivorous animals they feed on vegetable matter, there are large and very small ones, and also, if you doubted it, dangerous ones. We will see it, after having smiled in front of the strangest, unearthed around the world.
Herbivorous animals: who they are
The herbivorous animals they are organisms that feed mainly on living plants. The herbivory is not a "disease" even if it sounds very bad: it is a typical form of nutrition which, in addition to the leaves, includes the presence in the "dish" of roots, fruit, nectar, sap and also of cyanobacteria and other single and multicellular algae or microflora organisms.
The role of the herbivorous animals within the planetary food chain: it is they who transform plant molecules (cellulose, starch) into animal molecules (glycogen) ensuring food for carnivores and decomposing animals.
Living in very different climatic zones and ecosystems the herbivorous animals they adapted by transforming their diet according to what they found. Even from season to season all of them must accept to feed on the plants that nature produces, moreover they have a very low assimilation efficiency.
There are various ways to "subclassify" them herbivorous animals, for example in frugivores (which feed mainly on fruits) e folivores (which feed mainly on leaves): an unclear distinction because they often eat other plant parts such as plant stems, roots and seeds.
The herbivorous animals mammals are divided for example also into monogastric (stomach with a single pouch) among which we find Equidae and Rodents, e polygastric (or ruminants). The latter have a stomach with four different sacs (rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum) and see in their rows the Camelids (equipped with a three-pouch stomach) and i Ruminants strictly speaking (Bovidae, Cervidae, Giraffidae, etc.). With four bags they obviously digest much better thanks to the rumination process and microbial digestion.
Herbivorous animals: list
Among herbivorous animals best known, before starting with the long list, we find the kangaroo. He jumps, and the heavily muscled tail helps him balance his body as he does so. Kangaroos have a digestive system in compartments and sometimes there are microorganisms inside them that help digestion. Of these herbivorous animals ready to jump there are various sizes, from 1 kg to 90.
Others herbivorous animals well known and usually appreciated are the camels, around in flocks of about 20 specimens, under the guidance of a male. They are very resistant physically, both to climatic conditions and in terms of nutrition and thirst. Taking advantage of the fat-filled humps to their advantage, they are herbivorous animals able to survive the lack of food and water for several days.
In Equatorial Africa we find herbivorous animals very social, i gorilla, also in flocks but a little smaller, always led by a male, the most powerful. The gorilla's diet includes shoots, leaves, fruits, roots, mushrooms, tender bark and bamboo stems.
And then among the herbivorous animals There is the Koala, hungry for eucalyptus buds and leaves. Some microorganisms are used to digest them: it would not be possible to assimilate cellulose without them. Furthermore, thanks only to the cecum, koalas avoid the possible toxic effects of eucalyptus. At sight, these herbivorous animals they show a beautiful fur over ash gray and white on the belly, long and soft.
So here is the list of herbivorous animals in alphabetical order: Bee, Bison, Sloth, Ox, Buffalo, Camel, Chamois, Kangaroo, Capybara, Goat, Caribou, Beaver, Horse, Deer, Cicada, Rabbit, Dik-dik, Dugong, Elephant, Butterfly, Gazelle, Giraffe, Iguana, Impala, Hippopotamus, Koala, Lama, Manatee, Lichi, Earthworm, Cow, Mouflon, Nutria, Nyala, Okapi, Oryx, Sheep, Porcupine, Rhinoceros, Ibex, Tapir, Yak, Zebra.
Particular Herbivorous Animals
In the list of herbivorous animals some species that have never been heard of and that intrigue you. For example the capybara I now discover that it is the largest rodent currently in existence. It lives in swamps and wetlands near lakes or rivers in tropical and temperate areas of South America, east of the Andes.
Also caribou I am sure herbivorous animals unusual for me: reindeer from North America, both resident and migratory. What about the Dugong, herbivorous animal and mammal of the order Sirenia, wallows which is a pleasure. Going to Africa we find among the herbivorous animals the nyala (Tragelaphus angasii), South African antelope with spiral horns that often hangs around waterholes, alone or in small family groups. It resembles a giraffe, slightly, theOkapi, mammal native to the Congo in central Africa, while the Tapir, so well known on TV, is actually one of the herbivorous animals similar to rhinos but also to horses: what a curious aspect it results.
Most dangerous herbivorous animals
Well yes, there are dangerous herbivorous animals: they don't eat us, but better not to irritate and provoke them. Let's not think about who knows what strange beings, I'm referring to hippos, for example, or to rhinos and bison.
L'hippopotamus it is literally a colossal animal: it lives in African rivers and lakes and, squat and cylindrical, has as many as 40 teeth, of which the lower canines are triangular and curved and reach 70 cm in length. With a 4 cm thick skin these herbivorous animals they are almost always in the water with their eyes and ears sticking out, they eat cereals, legumes and all kinds of vegetables. They are known to be not only dangerous but also a little "rude": when they get on the ground, they damage entire plantations by trampling them as if nothing had happened.
Among herbivorous animals they also sprout, with their horn, or even two, i rhinos, with very thick or armored skin, almost entirely naked. The tail is small but the feet are equipped with toes complete with hooves. They live mostly in South Asia and in a part of Africa, where there is water: in swamps or on river banks. They are especially active at night and eat tree branches, thistles, gorse, reeds and similar hard vegetables. Theirs stomach it is 1.70 m long and 75 cm wide!
Like hippos, they ruin plantations, they go around in groups of three or four, maximum: they are not at all sociable, they remain isolated or in groups of three or four specimens. they do not have a sociable character. Another dangerous example among herbivorous animals and the bison but let's not forget the unleashed Panda and the boar.
Herbivorous animals of the Savannah
Finally, a leap into the world of children: they herbivorous animals or not they usually love them. To get to know and learn to distinguish in particular those who eat vegetables and who live in the adventurous Savannah, here is an excellent book to browse with them and then leave them alone to explore.
Anyone wishing to buy it immediately, can find it directly at this link, it is called "The elephant and other herbivores of the Savannah ". Enjoy the reading.
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