Many animals are classified as omnivores. Omnivores are animals that eat both plants and animals, but not necessarily in the same meal. This means they have a diet of protein, vegetables, fruits, grains, and nuts.
A wide variety of birds live on this kind of diet including ducks, chickens, parrots, and crows to name just a few.
There are also lots of mammals that fall into the category including anteaters who have evolved to eat ants exclusively for their protein source. In this article we are going to go through 10 examples of omnivores, let’s jump to it.
Difference between Omnivores and Carnivores
Carnivores and omnivores both eat meat but Carnivores eat strictly meat whereas omnivores’ diet does consist of veggies and plants.
Yet, the two are very different in how they go about the process. Carnivores like lions, tigers, and bears hunt their prey while it is still alive. They use their claws to immobilize them so they can finish them off quickly with a bite to the neck or head. They are called hunters because of this characteristic behavior.
10 Examples of Omnivores
Bears
Bears are the largest omnivores in the animal kingdom. They eat lots of meat, but they also love to eat fruit and nuts just like some small animals.
Bears usually spend most of their time in the forest in order to fulfill their diet needs, but they don’t mind going out into the wild to hunt and kill their prey when they have to. Even though bears have a great deal of abundance in nutritional value, studies show that few bears actually get enough protein from their diets because of their large size.
Raccoons
Raccoons are nocturnal omnivores that spend their day hunting for food and water, which they store in their den at night. These opportunistic animals have a very adaptable diet, but they eat mostly vegetables.
They love to eat fruits, nuts, corn and grains during the summertime when these items are available. In the wintertime though raccoons supplement their diets with insects and whatever trash they can find because food is scarce.
Foxes
Foxes are very omnivorous creatures who are classified as one of the most intelligent animals in the world. Foxes have a diet that includes plenty of meat and insects, but they also need to eat a lot of nuts and berries which they obtain through their diets.
They prefer to eat grains and vegetables while they are nursing their young, but they also may eat some meat during these times too.
Hippos
Hippos are classified as semi herbivores because they mostly eat vegetation, but they also love to consume meat when it is available. Hippos eat fruit and nuts, grasses and leaves. They will also hunt for food if their natural diet is not available.
These animals are usually very aggressive, but they usually only attack other animals when they feel threatened. They can become violent though if they do not get enough protein in their diets throughout the year.
Dogs
Dogs are also classified as omnivores, but most of them have a very carnivorous diet. Dogs usually eat a lot of meat, but they also enjoy eating fruits, vegetables and grains. Some people may think that dogs are vegan due to the fact that they like to eat grass in the yard, but dogs just like goats are chewing the grass to help aid with their digestion.
Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are classified as omnivores and they love to eat insects and worms. They also enjoy eating fruit, nuts, grain, and vegetables.
Because hedgehogs are nocturnal they prefer to eat during the nighttime when they are not likely to be seen by other animals. Some people keep these small creatures as pets, but they also make great pest control because of their insect-loving diet, which is why many people prefer to breed them at home.
Chimpanzees:
Chimpanzees are very intelligent animals that eat protein, fruits and nuts. They usually spend most of their time in the wild where they have plenty of food to choose from. They get some of their diet by eating insects and small mammals like monkeys, but they often come upon these items unknowingly when hunting for food.
Gorillas:
Gorillas also eat a lot of protein, fruit and sometimes leaves depending on the season. These animals like to eat plenty of peanut butter and fruit.
Gorillas will also occasionally hunt for meat and crab. These primates are very intelligent animals that can communicate with each other in sign language to let each other know how they are feeling.
Honey Badgers
Honey badgers are not ones to mess with. These animals are powerful and will attack anything that threatens them. They eat mostly insects, but they also love to eat honey bees, mice, reptiles and other small mammals.
They prefer to live in the wild where they do not have to compete with other animals for their food. This animal is very strong because they can travel long distances while carrying their food too.
Coyote
Coyotes also eat a lot of insects and small mammals, but they do not mind eating fruits, vegetables and grain either.
They spend most of their time in the wild where they eat whatever they come across including plant matter. These animals have become very adaptable over the years and they make great pets because they can survive in the wild on their own.
Conclusion
The animal kingdom is a great place to study when you are learning about different diets. It is important to understand different diets because each animal has its own nutritional needs.
Because of this, it is important to be able to identify the different diets and learn how they benefit one another. The omnivores are a diverse group that includes animals like dogs, bears, raccoons, hedgehogs, and many more.
Lydia King is a huge animal lover and has always been fascinated with learning about the animal kingdom. She enjoys writing about anything animal related from scientific information about rare species to animal references in pop culture.
