What Animals are Herbivores?

An herbivore is an animal that only eats plants.  They have many special characteristics, which allow them to eat and to stay safe.  Most have special digestive systems that enable them to digest plants and grasses. Their teeth are designed to help grind and chew the plants so they can eat all day.  They also have eyes placed on the sides of their heads and large ears to allow them to watch and listen for predators.

Dinosaur Herbivores:  There were some dinosaurs that were considered herbivores.  These were the Edmontosaurus, the Triceratops, the Apatosaurus and the Pachycephalosaurus.

Desert Herbivores:  Herbivores can be found in the desert and include the chuckwalla, the desert bighorn sheep, the Gambel’s quail and the desert tortoise.  The chuckwalla comes from the iguana family and can be found in the southwest deserts of America.  It consumes desert wildflowers, fruits and leaves.  The desert bighorn sheep, found in northern North America, consumes dried grass, leaves of bushes, forbs and sedges.  The Gambel’s quail feeds on grass, leaves, seeds, berries and fruit and the desert tortoise eats grasses and plants such as cacti and creosote bushes.

Rainforest Herbivores: Some of the herbivores that can be found in the rainforests include capybara, the Asian elephant, gorillas, and the okapi.  The capybara, a semi-aquatic animal, is a large rodent found in the Amazon region.  They feed on a variety of grass, bark and reeds.  The Asian elephant can be found in Indonesia, Malaysia and India.  They eat a substantial amount of vegetation to supply energy for their huge body size.  Gorillas can be found in the rainforests of Africa.  They consume insects, leaves, bark, roots and stems.  The okapi, which resembles a zebra, can also be found in the rainforests of Africa.  They eat leaves and other vegetation.

Insect Herbivores:  Insects are also known as herbivores.  While not as dangerous to man, they can be very destructive when it comes to destroying plants and crops.  Examples of these types of insects include the cockchafer, which destroys plants, and the termite, known for destroying trees.  Other examples include grasshoppers, aphids, honeybee and butterflies.

Dangerous Herbivores:  While herbivores are known for only eating vegetation, that doesn’t mean they cannot be harmful.  While they may not eat meat, they can inflict and oftentimes kill a human or other animal when feeling threatened.  Some animals to avoid include the Gelada baboon, the American bison, the cassowary, gorillas, rhinos, wild boars, the Cape buffalo, elephants and the hippopotamus.