Question

Define the term herbivores.

Answer 1

Hint: These are the animals that depend on the autotrophs to fulfill their requirement of food, which means they feed only on plants and their material.

Correct step by step answer:
The term ‘Herbivore’ is derived from the Latin word ‘herba’ meaning a small plant or herb, and ‘vora’, means to eat. So, a herbivore is an animal that has anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, as the main component of their diet.
To eat only plants, herbivorous animals have developed mouthparts, especially for rasping or grinding. For example horses, cows, buffaloes and other herbivore animals have wide flat teeth that are adapted to grinding grass, tree bark, and other tough plant materials.
A large percentage of herbivores have developed gut flora that helps them to digest plant matter, which is more difficult to digest than animal prey. This flora is made up of cellulose- digesting
bacteria or protozoa.
The herbivores are following two strategies of feeding themselves, they are grazing (e.g. cows) and browsing (herbivory) (e.g. moose). For the grazers at least 90% of the forage has to be grass and for a browser at least 90% tree leaves and/or twigs.
Herbivores form an important link in the food chain because they consume plants to digest the carbohydrates produced by a plant. The herbivores are consumed by the carnivores to get energy, while the omnivores obtain their nutrients from either plants or animals. Due to the ability to survive solely on tough and fibrous plant matter, the herbivore's are termed as the primary consumers in the food cycle (chain).

Note:
- Many herbivores do not restrict themselves to one specific feeding strategy, but use several strategies and eat a variety of plant parts.
- Herbivores are a very important link between the autotrophs and the consumers.
- Herbivores have adapted their mouthparts according to the types of food they eat.