Omnivore
Omnivore
An omnivore is any animal that is a generalist feeder, consuming a wide variety of foods that include both animal and plant matter. Omnivores may assume diverse roles within ecological food webs, acting as primary consumers when eating plant material or acting as a much higher-level consumer when eating meat.
Some examples of omnivorous animals are pig and bear, both of which will eat a wide range of plant and animal products. Most wild populations of these animals are primarily herbivorous, with their consumption of plant types dependent on seasonal and geographic availability. However, both of these animals are opportunistic meat eaters. If meat can be readily attained through predation or scavenging, they will consume it.
Humans are also omnivorous. The human diet is primarily composed of only about 100 plant and animal species. However, the products of thousands of additional plant and animal species are consumed in smaller quantities by humans.
See also Carnivore; Food chain/web; Herbivore.
Bill Freedman