Changes

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

[[Latin]] omnivorus, from omni- + -vorus -vorous

[[Latin]] omnivorus, from omni- + -vorus -vorous

*Date: circa [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_Century 1656]

*Date: circa [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_Century 1656]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1 : feeding on both [[animal]] and [[vegetable]] substances

*1 : feeding on both [[animal]] and [[vegetable]] substances

Although there are cases of [[herbivores]] eating meat matter, as well as examples of [[carnivores]] eating [[plants]], the [[classification]] refers to the [[adaptations]] and main [[food]] source of the [[species]] in general, so these exceptions do not make either [[individual]] animals nor the species as a whole omnivores.

Although there are cases of [[herbivores]] eating meat matter, as well as examples of [[carnivores]] eating [[plants]], the [[classification]] refers to the [[adaptations]] and main [[food]] source of the [[species]] in general, so these exceptions do not make either [[individual]] animals nor the species as a whole omnivores.

Most bear species are considered omnivores, but individual diets can range from almost exclusively herbivorous to almost exclusively [[carnivorous]], depending on what [[food]] sources are available locally and [[season]]ally. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bears Polar bears] are classified as [[carnivores]] while pandas are classified as herbivores, although giant pandas will eat some meat (e.g., insects) from time to time, and polar bears will sometimes eat [[plants]] (e.g., kelp) but neither is a significant part of their diet.

Most bear species are considered omnivores, but individual diets can range from almost exclusively herbivorous to almost exclusively [[carnivorous]], depending on what [[food]] sources are available locally and [[season]]ally. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bears Polar bears] are classified as [[carnivores]] while pandas are classified as herbivores, although giant pandas will eat some meat (e.g., insects) from time to time, and polar bears will sometimes eat [[plants]] (e.g., kelp) but neither is a significant part of their diet.

==Species considered omnivorous==

==Species considered omnivorous==

Various [[mammals]] are omnivorous by [[nature]], such as pigs, badgers, bears, coatis, hedgehogs, opossums, skunks, sloths, squirrels, raccoons, chipmunks, mice and rats. Also some [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primates primates] are omnivorous including [[humans]] and chimpanzees. Various birds are omnivorous, whose diet varies from berries and nectar to insects, worms, fish, and small rodents; examples include cassowarys, chickens, crows and related corvids, keas, rallidae, and rheas. In addition, some lizards, turtles, fish, such as piranhas, and invertebrates are also omnivorous.

Various [[mammals]] are omnivorous by [[nature]], such as pigs, badgers, bears, coatis, hedgehogs, opossums, skunks, sloths, squirrels, raccoons, chipmunks, mice and rats. Also some [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primates primates] are omnivorous including [[humans]] and chimpanzees. Various birds are omnivorous, whose diet varies from berries and nectar to insects, worms, fish, and small rodents; examples include cassowarys, chickens, crows and related corvids, keas, rallidae, and rheas. In addition, some lizards, turtles, fish, such as piranhas, and invertebrates are also omnivorous.

While [[virtually]] all [[mammals]] may display 'omnivorous' [[behavior]] [[patterns]], depending on conditions of supply, [[culture]], etc. Mammals will generally prefer one class of [[food]] or another, with optimized digestive [[processes]]. Like most [[arboreal]] species, most squirrels are primarily granivores, preferring nuts and seeds. but as with virtually all mammals, squirrels can resort to consuming some meat as fallback [[food]] if starving or facultatively, e.g., when nests are in [[danger]] of being raided by predators, etc.

While [[virtually]] all [[mammals]] may display 'omnivorous' [[behavior]] [[patterns]], depending on conditions of supply, [[culture]], etc. Mammals will generally prefer one class of [[food]] or another, with optimized digestive [[processes]]. Like most [[arboreal]] species, most squirrels are primarily granivores, preferring nuts and seeds. but as with virtually all mammals, squirrels can resort to consuming some meat as fallback [[food]] if starving or facultatively, e.g., when nests are in [[danger]] of being raided by predators, etc.

Depending on the [[species]] of bear, there is generally a preference for one class of [[food]] or another as [[plants]] and [[animals]] are digested differently.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omnivorous]

Depending on the [[species]] of bear, there is generally a preference for one class of [[food]] or another as [[plants]] and [[animals]] are digested differently.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omnivorous]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]