An omnivore (/ˈɒmnɪvɔːr/) is an animal that regularly consumes significant quantities of both plant and animal matter.[3][4] Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and animal matter, omnivores digest carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, and metabolize the nutrients and energy of the sources absorbed.[5] Often, they have the ability to incorporate food sources such as algae, fungi, and bacteria into their diet.[6][7][8]
Omnivores come from diverse backgrounds that often independently evolved sophisticated consumption capabilities. For instance, dogs evolved from primarily carnivorous organisms (Carnivora) while pigs evolved from primarily herbivorous organisms (Artiodactyla).[9][10][11] Despite this, physical characteristics such as tooth morphology may be reliable indicators of diet in mammals, with such morphological adaptation having been observed in bears.[12][13]
All of these animals are omnivores, yet still fall into special niches in terms of feeding behavior and preferred foods. Being omnivores gives these animals more food security in stressful times or makes possible living in less consistent environments.[19]
^"Omnivore". National Geographic Education. National Geographic Society. 21 January 2011. Archived from the original on 9 January 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
^McArdle, John. "Humans are Omnivores". Vegetarian Resource Group. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
^Evans, Alistair R.; Pineda-Munoz, Silvia (2018), Croft, Darin A.; Su, Denise F.; Simpson, Scott W. (eds.), "Inferring Mammal Dietary Ecology from Dental Morphology", Methods in Paleoecology: Reconstructing Cenozoic Terrestrial Environments and Ecological Communities, Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology, Springer International Publishing, pp. 37–51, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-94265-0_4, ISBN978-3-319-94265-0
^Sacco, Tyson; Valkenburgh, Blaire Van (2004). "Ecomorphological indicators of feeding behaviour in the bears (Carnivora: Ursidae)". Journal of Zoology. 263 (1): 41–54. doi:10.1017/S0952836904004856. ISSN1469-7998.
^"Cassowary". San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
^Galdikas, Biruté M. F. (1 February 1988). "Orangutan diet, range, and activity at Tanjung Puting, Central Borneo". International Journal of Primatology. 9 (1): 1–35. doi:10.1007/BF02740195. ISSN0164-0291. S2CID40513842.
^Superina, Mariella (1 March 2011). "Husbandry of a pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus): case study of a cryptic and little known species in captivity". Zoo Biology. 30 (2): 225–231. doi:10.1002/zoo.20334. hdl:11336/80345. ISSN1098-2361. PMID20648566.