Herbivore

In zoology, an herbivore is an animal that is adapted to eat primarily plant matter (rather than meat). Although such animals are sometimes refered to as being vegetarian, this term is more properly reserved for humans who choose not to eat meat as opposed to animals that are unable to.

Herbivores can be further classified into various sub-groups, such as frugivores, which eat mainly fruit; or folivores, which specialize in eating leaves. This specialization is far from universal, however, and many fruit- and leaf-eating animals also eat other parts of plants, notably roots and seeds. The diets of some herbivorous animals vary with the seasons, especially in the temperate zones, where different plant foods are most available at different times of year. Here is a list below that includes animals that are unable to chew or digest animal matter.

Animals that are true herbivores

• Bovids (such as cows, sheeps, antelopes, and mooses)
• Horses (including all members of the horse family such as domestic horses, donkeys, and zebras)
• Deer
• Elephants
• Some rodents such as guinea pigs, porcupines, beavers, and capybaras
• Rabbits
• Grasshoppers
• Snails and slugs

For a complete further list of herbivorous animals see list of herbivorous animals.