Question

Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given.
With regard to natural eating habits, a human is:
A. An herbivore
B. A carnivore
C. An omnivore
D. A granivore

Answer 1

Hint: Cats and dogs are seen eating grass at times but this is only because they want to vomit out and clean their stomachs as they can’t digest plants. Therefore, eating behaviour of animals classifies them in different groups.

Complete answer:
Based on the feeding habits organisms are classified into three main categories:
-Herbivores: Eg: deer, monarch caterpillar, some birds etc.
These organisms only feed on plants or their diet is mainly plant-based. These have a digestive system that is well adapted to digest huge amounts of plant material. The sub types under herbivores are:
Fruit eating frugivores
Seed eating granivores
Nectar feeding nectivores
Leaf eating folivores

-Carnivores: Carnivorous animals are those whose diet primarily consists of other organisms. Their digestive system is well adapted to digest and assimilate meat, insects etc. Eg: big cats like lion and tiger, fox, snakes etc.
-Omnivores: Omnivorous animals have adapted themselves to eat and digest both plant materials and animal-based materials over the course of time. Eg: Humans

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Additional information:
The teeth in different groups of animals mentioned above are different based on the diet.
Herbivores: Incisors – chisel like, molars and premolars – flat (for chewing on plants), canines -small or reduced in size.
Carnivores: Incisors – Small, molars and premolars – serrated like knives, canines – big and sharp. The teeth are adapted to tear and shred the flesh.
Omnivores: Incisors – built for slicing and biting through but not for chewing, canines – sharp and long but not like canines in carnivores (helps in tearing), premolars – flat with sharp edges to help in tearing along with the canines, molars – flat and helps in chewing.

Note: It can be noted that in some cases herbivores like deer are observed eating the dead parts of other deer or feeding on dead fishes. This usually happens when the animals want some salt in their diet or they lack iron. Some scientists say that some of the herbivorous animals feed on meat because they can eat it or simply feel like eating it. This can be an evolutionary adaptation as well because they will be able to survive in conditions if plants become scarce behaving like a predator.