20 omnivorous animals

Human beings are animals and, more specifically, they belong to the omnivores; a classification obtained through reviews on evaluation, teeth, diet and other details. However, humans are not the only ones on the list and they are accompanied by a wide variety of animals that could surprise some.

What is omnivore?

If you want to know what omnivores eat, the answer may be simple at first. When a living thing is omnivorous, it means that it can eat a diet that includes foods commonly eaten by herbivorous and carnivorous animals at the same time.

In simple words, any being that has the ability to feed on plants and meat at the same time, belongs to this category. This is important, since knowing what animals eat is crucial to classifying them and placing them in the food chain, an order that is fundamental in nature.

On the other hand, there are species that have been so domesticated that their very diet has been influenced by human intervention and has turned them into omnivores; such is the case of chickens and pigs. For these species, humans have shown great talent in designing all kinds of feeders, using various materials at their disposal and tools, which can range from a simple hammer to a professional planer. All with the intention that these domestic animals feed comfortably.

20 omnivorous animals and their most important characteristics

In the following list you will find several examples of omnivorous animals, so that you can more easily identify them the next time you come across one of them:

Pig

Yes, the pig is omnivorous. This well-known animal is capable of feeding on practically anything. However, being in the wild, they tend to prefer a plant-based diet.

Hen

Another well-known omnivorous animal, but this time belonging to the bird species, is the hen. This bird can feed on legumes, fruits, vegetables, insects and meat scraps. However, it is not advised to abuse the protein, to avoid diseases.

Tortoise

Although this animal is known to be primarily herbivorous, depending on the species of tortoise, it can also eat earthworms and crickets. In addition, it is one of the favorite pets of many people.

Bear

The bear is one of the largest carnivorous mammals on earth, but this only applies to polar bears, which have a meat-based diet due to the lack of vegetation in their habitat. However, other species of bears, in addition to meat, also eat fruits and roots.

Mouse

Although mice are herbivores in their natural environment, those that live in cities have evolved to eat a myriad of things, including animal waste.

Sea urchin

Hedgehogs are becoming increasingly popular exotic animals to keep as pets, although it must be taken into account that their care is demanding, as they are a delicate animal.

Your diet in a domestic life can be made up of chicken, boiled eggs and even tuna or salmon, but free of salt. In addition, to complement, you can also give him banana, apple, carrot, potatoes, cucumber and other vegetables or fruits.

Clownfish

This beautiful and colorful fish is a well-known omnivore, enjoying “vegetables” such as algae and zooplankton, but also combining them with crustaceans and worms.

Chipmunk

Squirrels, like mice, have learned to adapt to urban spaces, maintaining a high number of members in cities. Mainly, this rodent feeds on fruits, vegetables and berries, but it can also include small insects such as spiders, for example, among its meals.

Dog

That’s right, although it seems that they are part of the carnivores, dogs are omnivores as an evolutionary method to adapt to the expansion of their environment.

The dog food that humans have been accustoming their pets to can contain high degrees of starch and other vegetables such as spinach, carrot and lettuce.

Fox

Although the fox is a naturally hunting mammal and usually has grasshoppers and small rodents in its diet, they can also survive by feeding on wild fruits and berries that they find in their environment.

Seagull

Among omnivorous birds, the seagull is another of the best known species. They can eat a wide variety of foods ranging from vegetables, eggs, rodents, insects and more, even becoming scavengers.

Piranha

This fish can measure up to 60 centimeters and is usually found in the rivers of South America. It can eat meat, chicken, fruits, vegetables and practically any food, even attacking its own species.

Ostrich

Their diet, although composed mostly of fruits, berries, and seeds, is also mixed with rodents and insects. Besides, as extra information, it is the largest bird in the world that cannot fly.

Opossum

The opossum occupies a place between herbivorous and omnivorous animals, since it can eat worms, rodents, baby birds and also grains, fruits or plants.

Skunk

This mammal has a diet based on fruits, eggs, insects, other smaller mammals and even some birds.

Raven

This bird, which some consider ominous, is capable of obtaining its energy from a diet made up of seeds, nuts and vegetables, but also amphibians, rodents, eggs, insects and carrion.

Jackal

The jackal can eat rodents, reptiles, birds and also fruits, being able to adapt to various habitats for its survival.

Magpie

This small bird feeds mainly on insects and cereals, although from time to time it can also be a scavenger.

flamingo

This particular and well-known bird feeds mainly on algae and small crustaceans, obtaining a balanced omnivorous diet after years of evolution and the development of a special beak, to work the mud when searching for food.

Human being

Finally, and as already mentioned at the beginning of this article, another species that has a diet based on animal feed and also plants such as vegetables, vegetables and spices, is the human being.

It is able to digest various foods and even choose to feed only on plants. However, these people are not classified as herbivores, but as vegetarians or vegans.