Herbivore

A deer and two fawns feeding on some foliage
A deer and two fawns feeding on some foliage

In zoology, a 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.

There is a misperception that if an animal is herbivorous, it represents less danger to humans than a carnivore (or, sometimes, no danger at all). This is not logically sound — few animals, even carnivores, will seek humans as a food source, but any animal will attack a human if necessary to defend itself. For example, in national parks such as Yellowstone, bison represent significantly more danger to humans than wolves, which are likely to avoid people.

Animals that are true herbivores

The following are herbivorous animals in nature. Some will occasional eat animal parts to address nutritional deficiencies (e.g., deer may eat bones and shed antlers). Most can digest meat in artificial conditions (feedlots) with adaptation.