15 herbivorous animals

Herbivorous animals are those that have vegetables as the basis of their diet, whether they are herbs, plants or seeds. Some animals that, despite the simplicity of their diet, are highly variable in terms of their size and physical characteristics.

Within the classification of the different species, as far as their diet is concerned, those animals that eat plants, seeds or fruits are called herbivores. Contrary to what we might think, we are not only talking about small animals, but also about others of a certain size, such as the cow, the horse or even the elephants. Something that proves the variety of this type of animals. And you can corroborate this with the selection of vegetarian animals that we have chosen to illustrate this article.

What is a herbivorous animal

Before starting, it is convenient to be clear about what is herbivore when it comes to animals. These animals are those that consume vegetables, in general. This category is divided into three different sections:

Folivores : they are the animals that eat grass and leaves.

Frugivores : This group is made up of animals that eat fruit.

Granivores : would be those animals that eat grain.

As you can imagine, it is usual that many of these animals do not fit into a single category, there are those that eat grains and grasses, for example. In any case, it is a classification that helps us to get an idea of ​​where each of the animals that we are going to see next are located. 

The list

The cow: The cow is one of the best-known ruminant herbivores, whose diet is mainly based on grass. To cut, it has a rough tongue, processing it in its 4-stomach system.

The sloth: This animal feeds mainly on the leaves of the Ectopia tree, moving slowly through them, calmly. By the way, its digestion can take no less than a month. So this process is also taken in stride.

The parrot: With rare exceptions, most birds are also herbivores. The parrot, in particular, is an animal that feeds on a mixture of seeds, nuts and also fruits and vegetables. A diet that we must take care of carefully to promote the well-being of this pet.

The zebra: If you wonder what the zebra eats, the answer is that its diet is made up of coarse grass, leaves and shoots typical of the savannah. Occasionally eats bark and twigs, being able to support a poorer diet than other animals.

The guinea pig: Contrary to what one might think, the guinea pig is an animal that feeds only on plants and vegetables. It is true that there are feed and seeds for these animals, but they are a complement. Their diet is mainly based on hay, greens and vegetables, which should never be lacking in any well-equipped guinea pig cage.

The elephant: If you are not sure what elephants eat, the answer is somewhat complex. And it is that they eat up to 135 kilos of food a day, so the variety of their diet is quite high. In it we find roots, grass, fruit and bark, so it does not disgust anything vegetable.

The hare: Returning to the small animals, we find the hare. These rodents base their diet on herbs, grasses, branches and bark of trees. They have a stable diet, although when winter approaches they increase the amount of food they eat.

The goat: Another ruminant animal, capable of eating practically anything. In fact, the famous saying “not even a goat can eat this” is not accidental. However, their diet is based on leaves and flowers, mainly thorns, brambles and weeds. That is why they are used in the cleaning of the mountains, with results that are equal to the Greencut machinery.

The horse: The horse is another of the animals that are located within the herbivorous mammals. These animals have large teeth, which allow them to tear up grass and eat foods such as hay, carrots, apples or beets. Obviously, they eat a lot and they do it three times a day.

The Iguana: Although it may be surprising, the iguana has a mainly vegetarian diet. It is true that, in its youth, it can eat some small insects, but in its old age it is a purely herbivorous animal. As much as to enjoy fruits such as berries, melon or apples, among other options.

The squirrel: We all have the image of the squirrel eating nuts and other seeds. A purely vegetarian diet in which shoots of tender branches, lichens or mushrooms can be found. It is also an animal that feeds on roots, if necessary.

The koala: This beautiful animal is another clear example of a herbivore that we can find. Specifically, this animal feeds on eucalyptus leaves, which form the basis of its diet. Precisely because of the low calorie intake of this plant, the animal has a rather sedentary life, sleeping around 20 hours a day.

The tortoise: Among the different species of tortoises, the terrestrial ones have a vegetarian diet. It is based on the fruits found in nature, so it includes leaves, stems, roots and fruits, among other foods. It is true that they can occasionally eat insects and worms, but it is not usual.

The orangutan: Like almost all apes, the orangutan is a herbivorous animal, whose diet is mainly based on fruits and leaves. A diet that, punctually, is topped with tree bark.

The deer: As the last animal on our list, we leave the deer. These animals feed mainly on plants, leaves, roots and stems. They may also feed on berries and other small fruits in season.