Classification of Animals

Classification of Animals: Based on their feeding habit, animals are divided in to: Herbivores, Carnivores and Omnivores.

Herbivores: Those animals which eat only plant and plant products are called herbivores.As the word "Herb means plant:. Like cow, deer, rabbit, elephants etc. Characteristics of herbivores are:

They have sharp cuttin teeth in the front and wide teeth at the back for grazing and grinding. Elephants are herbivores and they have the largest teeth on Earth.

Some herbivores like cows, bulls and camels have the ability to bring back the previously swallowed grass or other food items to the mouth for rechewing. This is known as chewing the cud.

Some herbivores like squirrels, have a pair of sharp incisors in both jaws. These teeth are used to gnaw food items like nuts.

Some herbivores like butterflies and humming birds have straw like mouthparts to such nectar from flowers.

Carnivores: Those animals which eat the flesh of other animals are called carnivores. They are called flesh eaters like lion, tiger, vulture, hawk etc. Characteristics of carnivores are:

They have sharp and pointed canines (tearing teeth) along with sharp claws and powerful jaws which help them tear flesh. Birds have pointed beak to tear the flesh.

Some carnivores like chameleons and frogs have a long and sticky tongue which helps them catch insects.

Eagles have a curve and pointed beak which helps them tear flesh of their prey.

Sharks have several small and sharp teeth that help them bite off flesh.

3. Omnivores: Those animals which eat both plants and plant products and flesh of other animals. Human beings are the best examples of omnivores. More examples are bear, crow etc. Characteristics of omnivores are:

They have different types of teeth that help them eat both plants and flesh of other animals.

Birds like crows have sharp and pointed beak. Such type of beak is helpful in eating variety of food items.

Scavengers: Some birds and animals eat the flesh of other animals that are already dead. Like vulture, jackals and are called scavengers. Decomposers: Some organism feed on dead plants and animals and decompose them. These are called decomposers. For example: fungi and bacteria. Scavengers and decomposers help keep the Earth clean.

Parasites: animals that live on or inside the body of other living organism or plants and obtain food from them are called parasites. For example: fleas, leeches live outside the body of other animals, whereas roundworms, tapeworm live inside the bodies of animals. A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from them.

Sample Questions

(More Questions for each concept available in Login)

Question : 1

A ____________________ is a meat eater.
A. Herbivore	B. Carnivore	C. Omnivore	D. None of these
Right Option : B
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Question : 2

Given below are the names of some animals: (a) Goat, (b) Human beings, (c) Cockroach, (d) Eagle. Which of the above animals form a pair of omnivores?
A. (a) and (b)	B. (b) and (c)	C. (c) and (d)	D. (b) and (d)
Right Option : B
View Explanation