Herbivores - Carnivores - Omnivores

Animals fall into three distinct groups based upon what they eat. This is a natural way to group animals.

Herbivores

Any animal that eats only plants will be classified as a herbivore. Just because they don't eat meat doesn't mean all herbivores are small. Guinea pigs, rabbits, snails and butterflies are all good examples of small herbivores, but horses, cows, zebras, deer and elephants are herbivores, as well.

Many different types of animals can be herbivores, including mammals, insects, worms, invertebrates and even some birds.

Carnivores

Any animal that survives eating only meat is classified as a carnivore. Carnivores often have sharper teeth or even fangs to help tear up flesh. Most of the time in their ecosystem, carnivores will prey on herbivores, though they may eat omnivores or even other carnivores depending on what food is available. 

Small carnivores can include spiders, frogs and bats. Medium-size carnivores might include larger birds, such as eagles and hawks, snakes, and anteaters. Large carnivores range from wild dogs and wolves to large predators like lions, tigers or crocodiles.

Omnivores

Any animal that can eat both plants and animals is an omnivore. People are omnivores, containing with flat and sharp teeth and the ability to digest meat, fruit, and vegetables for food. Bears are another example of omnivores as they eat both berries and meat. Medium-size omnivores include animals like raccoons, pigs and chickens.

Teeth

Teeth can be a clue to identify in what category an animal fits. This isn't always the case, but herbivores more typically have flatter teeth for grinding up vegetation, while carnivores will have sharp teeth for tearing up meat. Many omnivores will have some combination of the two, allowing for easier eating and digestion of their food sources.

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Activity

Sort animals depending on what they eat.