herbivore

Everyday

A herbivore is an animal that eats only plants, such as grass, leaves, fruit or seeds. tree →

In the lessons

In science it is a key word in food chains and food webs, together with carnivore (eats meat) and omnivore (eats both). Herbivores are usually primary consumers: they eat producers (plants) and are often eaten by carnivores. Their teeth are often flat for grinding. Phrases: «herbivore teeth», «a large herbivore».

Examples

• A cow is a herbivore. tree →
• Rabbits, deer and sheep are herbivores. tree →
• Herbivores have flat teeth for grinding plants. tree →
• Some dinosaurs, like Triceratops, were herbivores. tree →
• In the food chain, the herbivore eats the grass and the fox eats the herbivore. tree →
• A koala is a herbivore that eats eucalyptus leaves. tree →
• Is a panda a herbivore? It eats almost only bamboo. tree →
• Elephants are the biggest herbivores on land. tree →

Note

Countable: «a herbivore», «herbivores». In the UK the h is spoken (a herbivore); in the USA «herb» often has a silent h, so some say «an herbivore». Adjective: «herbivorous». Compare carnivore and omnivore. Vegetarian people are not usually called herbivores except as a joke.