Examples of omnivores embrace mammals akin to baboons, bears, badgers, foxes, raccoons and monkeys; reptiles akin to sea turtles and the widespread snapping turtle; and birds akin to crows and different passerines, sapsuckers and the kea.
This web page accommodates examples of omnivores, together with these and plenty of extra omnivorous species.
Use the index beneath to seek out data on a selected animal, or proceed scrolling to browse the entire animals on the checklist.
Omnivores Examples
Omnivores
An omnivore is a species whose eating regimen consists of a combination of each plant and animal matter. The power to outlive on all kinds of meals might be advantageous to omnivorous animals; it’s partly because of the omnivorous eating regimen of animals akin to rats, foxes and canine that they’ve been in a position to unfold over the world with people (which, in fact, are one other omnivorous species).
Under is an inventory of notable omnivorous animals from quite a lot of animal teams.
Baboons
- Genus: Papio
- Sort of animal: Mammal
- Household: Cercopithecidae
- The place discovered: Africa
Baboons are giant monkeys of genus Papio, which is a part of the household Cercopithecidae – a gaggle of primates often known as the “Outdated World monkeys”.
In contrast to most monkeys, baboons are terrestrial (ground-dwelling), relatively than arboreal (tree-dwelling).
The six species of baboon are listed beneath, along with the conservation standing of every. All are present in Africa; the hamadryas baboon can be discovered on the Arabian Peninsula.
- Hamadryas baboon Papio hamadryas Least Concern
- Guinea baboon Papio papio Close to Threatened
- Olive baboon Papio anubis Least Concern
- Yellow baboon Papio cynocephalus Least Concern
- Chacma baboon Papio ursinus Least Concern
- Kinda baboon Papio kindae Least Concern
Baboons are omnivores that eat a variety of meals, from grass and fruit to small antelopes and even different monkeys.
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Bears
- Sort of animal: Mammal
- Household: Ursidae
- The place discovered: All continents besides Antarctica
The eight species of bear are the: polar bear, brown bear, American black bear, spectacled bear, Asian black bear, sloth bear, solar bear, and large panda. Collectively, they make up the household Ursidae.
Bears are sometimes used as examples of omnivores. Most bears are omnivorous to a larger or lesser diploma, with species such because the brown bear and American black bear being among the many world’s most omnivorous animals, in a position to both forage, scavenge or hunt all kinds of meals.
Different bears are much less omnivorous. The polar bear, for instance, is nearly completely carnivorous, whereas the enormous panda is primarily herbivorous.
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Brown Rat
- Scientific identify: Rattus norvegicus
- Sort of animal: Mammal, Rodent
- Household: Muridae
- The place discovered: All continents besides Antarctica
- Conservation standing: Least Concern
Like all “true” rats, the brown rat is a rodent of genus Rattus, a gaggle of rodents that accommodates 66 currently-recognized species. (A number of different animals, akin to bandicoot rats, are known as “rats” however should not truly “true” rats.)
The brown rat is a standard and widespread animal, discovered wherever people stay, on all continents besides Alaska.
One of many largest members of the rat and mouse household Muridae, the brown rat can weigh nearly twice as a lot because the black rat, one other widespread (and herbivorous) rat.
The brown rat can thrive in many alternative habitats and climates due partly to its omnivorous eating regimen. The brown rat will eat nearly something, from cereals to small animals.
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Chimpanzee
- Scientific identify: Pan troglodytes
- Sort of animal: Mammal, Primate
- Household: Hominidae
- The place discovered: Africa
- Conservation standing: Endangered
Chimpanzees are primates discovered within the forests of central Africa. They’re our nearest dwelling relations, sharing round 98% of our genes. They belong to the nice ape household Hominidae, together with bonobos, gorillas, orangutans and people.
These clever apes are among the many only a few animals identified to make use of instruments. Chimpanzees have been noticed utilizing sticks to extract bugs akin to termites and bees from their nests, and stones to crack open nuts.
Though nearly all of a chimp’s eating regimen is fruit and different plant materials, the species additionally eats bugs, eggs, and small animals.
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Coati (South American)
- Scientific identify: Nasua nasua
- Sort of animal: Mammal
- Household: Procyonidae
- The place discovered: South America
- Conservation standing: Least Concern
The South American coati is considered one of 4 species of coati. These cat-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to the raccoon household, Procyonidae. Coatis are also called coatimundis.
The South American coati forages on the forest ground by day, discovering meals among the many leaf litter utilizing its acute sense of scent. Through the night time it sleeps within the forest cover.
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Widespread Snapping Turtle
- Scientific identify: Chelydra serpentina
- Sort of animal: Reptile
- Household: Chelydridae
- The place discovered: North America (launched to elements of Asia)
- Conservation standing: Least Concern
The widespread snapping turtle is probably the most widespread of the three snapping turtles of genus Chelydra, and the one one present in the USA and Canada.
As an egg and hatchling, the snapping turtle has quite a few predators, however as an grownup it’s comparatively protected from predation. Solely bears, alligators, and infrequently river otters have been documented preying on grownup snappers.
An omnivore, the widespread snapping turtle eats giant quantities of aquatic vegetation, in addition to foraging for carrion and actively looking quite a few animals, together with waterfowl and small mammals. It often employs an ambush technique, ready for its prey to attract close to earlier than launching an assault.
The widespread snapping turtle has a most carapace (shell) size of fifty cm / 19 inches, and a most weight of 35 kg / 77 lb., though the typical particular person is considerably smaller. The species’ tail is nearly so long as its shell.
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Crabs
- Sort of animal: Crustacean
- Infraorder: Brachyura
- The place discovered: Oceans worldwide
Crabs are crustaceans with armored exoskeletons and ten legs, the entrance two of that are outfitted with pincers.
Most crabs stroll sideways, and the hind legs of some crabs have advanced into flattened “paddles” for swimming.
Crabs are present in the entire world’s oceans, and are additionally present in freshwater and even on land. The world’s largest crab is the Japanese spider crab, whose leg span generally is a size of as much as 4 meters (13 ft.)
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Crows
- Order: Passeriformes
- Household: Corvidae
The crow household Corvidae accommodates not solely crows but additionally birds akin to jays, nutcrackers, ravens and magpies. Members of Corvidae are often known as “corvids”, and are discovered on all continents aside from Antarctica.
Corvids are half of a bigger group of birds, the order Passeriformes, whose members are often known as Passerines, or “Perching birds”. Like most passerines, crows are omnivores.
Crows are among the many most clever of all animals. A number of crow species have been noticed utilizing “instruments” akin to sticks to accumulate meals, and the Eurasian magpie is likely one of the few animals in a position to move the mirror take a look at for self-awareness.
The widespread raven shouldn’t be solely the biggest member of the crow household, but additionally the largest passerine.
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Earthworms
- Sort of animal: Annelid
- Phylum: Annelida
- The place discovered: All continents besides Antarctica
Earthworms are lengthy, tubular invertebrates belonging to the order Opisthopora. There are over 6,000 identified species of earthworm, they usually discovered on all continents besides Antarctica.
Earthworms eat quite a lot of plant and animal materials discovered within the soil. The animal a part of an earthworm’s eating regimen contains animals akin to nematodes (roundworms) and rotifers.
Protruding from every section of an earthworm’s physique are small bristles often known as setae. An earthworm strikes by increasing and contracting its physique, with the setae performing as anchors because the worm pushes and pulls.
Earthworms don’t have lungs (they “breathe” by their pores and skin) or eyes (they’ve light-sensing cells of their pores and skin).
Earthworms are hermaphrodites (their physique accommodates each female and male elements), and a few earthworm species are parthenogenic (able to producing offspring with no accomplice).
(A searchable database of all earthworm species might be discovered right here.)
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European Badger
Scientific Identify: Meles meles
Sort of Animal: Mammal
Household: Mustelidae
Conservation Standing: Least Concern
The European badger is the world’s largest badger species. With its black and white markings, the species is considered one of Europe’s most recognizable animals.
Like many badgers, the European badger is an omnivore. Its eating regimen contains earthworms, small mammals, bugs, fruit and grasses.
The European badger is present in woodlands all through Europe, dwelling in teams in dens often known as setts. Like most different badgers, it’s primarily nocturnal.
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Honey Badger
- Sort of animal: Mammal
- Household: Mustelidae
- Scientific identify: Mellivora capensis
- Conservation standing: Least Concern
The honey badger is a member of the weasel household, Mustelidae. This group of carnivoran mammals additionally contains animals akin to otters, weasels, and the wolverine.
Discovered all through a lot of Africa and in elements of Asia, the honey badger is an adaptable species, in a position to stay in quite a lot of habitats starting from rainforests to deserts.
Like most badgers, the honey badger is omnivorous. The species is an energetic hunter, however may also scavenge when the prospect presents itself. As its identify suggests, the honey badger feeds on honey, and also will eat berries and different plant materials.
The honey badger is understood for its toughness and willingness to tackle animals a lot bigger than itself. Regardless of its fearsome status, nonetheless, the honey badger is not an apex predator and can itself fall sufferer to bigger predators akin to lions, leopards and hyenas.
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Kea
- Scientific identify: Nestor notabilis
- Sort of animal: Chicken
- Household: Strigopidae
- The place discovered: New Zealand
- Conservation standing: Endangered
The kea is a member of the New Zealand parrot household, Strigopidae (though some zoologists place it within the household Nestoridae).
The New Zealand parrots advanced in isolation since New Zealand broke away from the supercontinent Gondwana 80 million-odd years in the past. Right this moment, solely three species survive: the kea, kākā and Kākāpō, a critically endangered, flightless parrot.
The kea lives in forests in New Zealand’s South Island. The omnivorous parrot feeds on quite a lot of vegetation, in addition to on animals akin to bugs, snails, birds and even mammals as giant as sheep.
The kea is endangered, partially because of historic persecution by people because of the hen’s assaults on livestock.
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Mallard
- Scientific identify: Anas platyrhynchos
- Sort of animal: Chicken
- Household: Anatidae
- The place discovered: Europe, North America, Africa, Australia (launched)
- Conservation standing: Least Concern
The mallard is a species of duck present in most elements of the Northern Hemisphere (the species has additionally been launched into Australia).
Because of its wide selection and skill to stay in city environments, the mallard is likely one of the world’s best-known birds. If you happen to’ve ever fed bread to the geese on the pond at your native park, the possibilities are they had been mallards!
As is the case with many geese, the male mallard is considerably extra colourful than the feminine, having a metallic inexperienced head and a deep brown chest. The feminine is quite a lot of brown shades. Each female and male mallards have a flash of blue on their wings.
The mallard is a “dabbling duck”. As an alternative of diving, dabbling geese submerge their heads whereas tilting their our bodies ahead with the intention to discover meals beneath the water.
The mallard is an omnivore, various the plant / meat ratio of its eating regimen relying on the time of yr.
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Maned Wolf
- Scientific Identify: Chrysocyon brachyurus
- Sort of Animal: Mammal
- Household: Canidae (the canine household)
- Conservation Standing: Close to Threatened
The maned wolf is a canid (member of the canine household, Canidae) discovered within the grasslands of central South America. It’s each the largest canid present in South America, and the tallest of all wild canine. This distinctive species has a shaggy, red-brown coat, lengthy legs and enormous ears.
Regardless of the identify, the maned wolf shouldn’t be a wolf. A real omnivore, in addition to preying on quite a lot of mammals and different vertebrates, the maned wolf additionally eats a considerable amount of plant materials – excess of the primarily carnivorous grey wolf.
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Marmosets
- Sort of animal: Mammal (Primate)
- Household: Callitrichidae
- The place discovered: South America
Twenty-two species of marmoset are presently acknowledged. They belong to the household Callitrichidae, a gaggle of New World monkeys that can be residence to tamarins.
Marmosets are small monkeys that climb timber in a fashion just like that of squirrels. They’re comparatively primitive monkeys, with claws as an alternative of nails.
Like many monkeys, marmosets are omnivores. They eat tree sap, fruit, eggs, and quite a lot of small animals.
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Raccoon
- Scientific identify: Procyon lotor
- Sort of animal: Mammal
- Household: Procyonidae
- The place discovered: North America
- Conservation standing: Least Concern
With its distinctive black and white face, the raccoon is likely one of the most acquainted North American mammals. Initially present in forests, the adaptable raccoon is now residence in quite a lot of habitats, together with cities and cities.
The raccoon’s success is due partially to its omnivorous eating regimen, which incorporates bugs, worms, the eggs of each birds and reptiles, fish, and infrequently birds and mammals.
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Pink Fox
- Scientific Identify: Vulpes vulpes
- Sort of Animal: Mammal
- Household: Canidae
- Conservation Standing: Least Concern
The pink fox is likely one of the most widespread of all members of the canine household Canidae, being discovered not solely all through Europe, but additionally in Asia and North America. A part of the species’ success is because of its capability to stay alongside people in city environments.
In addition to having the ability to stay in a variety of habitats, this adaptable animal can be in a position to eat a variety of meals. An omnivore, it’ll catch its personal prey (often small vertebrates akin to rodents, rabbits and birds), scavenge, and in addition eat plant matter akin to berries, acorns and grasses.
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Sapsucker
- Sort of animal: Chicken
- Household: Picidae
- The place discovered: North America
Sapsuckers are a gaggle (the genus Sphyrapicus) of birds within the woodpecker household Picidae. Sapsuckers are present in forests in North America, the place they feed on tree sap obtained by drilling holes in tree trunks with their highly effective payments.
The rows of small, round holes drilled by sapsuckers can ultimately trigger a tree to die. In addition to sap, the omnivorous sapsuckers additionally feed on bugs.
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Sea Turtles
- Sort of animal: Reptile
- Order: Testudines
- The place discovered: Oceans worldwide
Sea turtles are seven species of turtles advanced to stay within the ocean. Sea turtles are migratory, shifting between their mating and feeding grounds. Some sea turtles migrate 1000’s of miles in a yr and return to the very seashore on which they hatched.
Through the breeding season, females emerge from the water, construct nests, lay their eggs and return to the ocean. Later, when the eggs hatch, the toddler turtles instinctively make their means into the ocean and fend for themselves. Male sea turtles by no means once more set foot on land.
The loggerhead, olive ridley, Kemp’s ridley and hawksbill sea turtles are all omnivores, consuming all kinds of sea vegetation, invertebrates, and fish.
The inexperienced sea turtle is primarily herbivorous as soon as reaching maturity, and each the leatherback and flatback sea turtles are primarily carnivorous, with the previous preying primarily on jellyfish.
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Skunks
- Sort of animal: Mammal
- Household: Mephitidae
Skunks, together with the 2 species of stink badger, make up the animal household Mephitidae.
All ten skunk species are discovered within the Americas (the 2 stink badgers are present in Southeast Asia).
Most skunks are black and white. The distinctive coloration acts as a warning; skunks are famously in a position to spray a foul-smelling liquid at potential attackers. This protection mechanism is even efficient in opposition to bears.
Skunks are omnivores, feeding on plant matter akin to fruit, roots and leaves, and animals akin to worms, insect larvae, bees, eggs and small vertebrates.
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Sloth (Two-Toed)
- Sort of Animal: Mammal
- Suborder: Folivora
Sloths are slow-moving, arboreal (tree-dwelling) animals which have advanced to hold upside-down from branches.
Two of the six dwelling sloth species – Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus) and Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni) are “two-toad sloths” of household Choloepodidae and genus Choloepus.
(The remaining 4 species are “three-toad sloths” of household Bradypodidae and genus Bradypus.)
Two-toed sloths have two toes on their forelimbs, three-toed sloths have three. All sloths have three toes on their hind limbs.
Whereas three-toed sloths are primarily herbivorous, the two-toed sloths are omnivores, consuming bugs, small vertebrates and carrion in addition to leaves and different plant materials.
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Squirrel Monkeys
- Sort of animal: Mammal
- Household: Cebidae
- The place discovered: Central America, South America
Squirrel monkeys are New World monkeys of genus Saimiri. Eight species are presently acknowledged.(supply)
These small, arboreal (tree-dwelling) primates attain a most physique size of round 35 cm / 14 cm, with a tail across the identical size.
Surrounding the mouth of a squirrel monkey is a patch of darkish, hairless pores and skin, and surrounding the eyes is an space of white fur, giving the face a “skull-like” look.
Fruit and bugs make up the majority of the eating regimen of those omnivorous animals.
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Virginia Opossum
- Scientific identify: Didelphis virginiana
- Sort of animal: Mammal (marsupial)
- Household: Didelphidae
- The place discovered: North America (together with Central America)
- Conservation standing: Least Concern
The Virginia opossum is a cat-sized North American marsupial. The species is discovered from Costa Rica to southern Canada, and is the one marsupial discovered north of Mexico.
Marsupials are mammals whose younger are born in a comparatively underdeveloped state. Toddler marsupials, that are often known as “joeys”, full their growth in a pouch within the mom’s physique.
Virginia opossum infants emerge from their mom’s pouch after round ten weeks. They’re then carried on the mom’s again till in a position to fend for themselves.
The omnivorous Virginia opossum feeds feed primarily on bugs, with different animals (each vertebrate and invertebrate) and quite a lot of plant materials making up the remainder of its eating regimen.
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Warthog
- Class of animal: Mammal
- Household: Suidae (the pig household)
- Genus: Phacochoerus
- Conservation standing (each species): Least Concern
There are two warthog species: the widespread warthog Phacochoerus africanus, which is discovered throughout a lot of sub-Saharan Africa; and the desert warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus, which is present in arid scrublands in Japanese Africa.
Each warthogs are members of the pig household, Suidae. Like different pigs, warthogs are omnivorous. They graze on grass, dig within the floor for roots and bulbs, and eat bugs and carrion.
A warthog’s large snout helps it to burrow and root round for meals within the floor. Its 4 tusks are elongated tooth that curve upwards out of the mouth. They’re used as weapons for combating different warthogs and predators.
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Wild Boar
- Sort of Animal: Mammal
- Household: Suidae
- Scientific Identify: Sus scrofa
- Conservation Standing: Least Concern
- The place discovered: Europe, Asia, North Africa
The wild boar is a species of untamed pig belonging to the pig household, Suidae. It’s discovered throughout a lot of Europe and Asia, and its vary extends southwards into northern Africa.
Primarily a forest animal, the wild boar can be present in habitats as assorted as grasslands and semi-deserts, though it prefers habitats with some tree cowl.
The boar’s giant head makes up one-third its whole physique size, which might attain as much as 1.5 m / 4.92 ft. Males are considerably bigger and heavier than females. The canine tooth of the male protrude from the mouth, forming quick tusks.
Male boars are sometimes solitary, whereas females stay in small teams often known as “sounders”.
The wild boar is a highly-adaptable omnivore that can eat all kinds of plant and animal matter.