• Ryktes@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    An important distinction to make is that they are facultative herbavors, not obligate herbavors.

    They might prefere fruits and veg, but they’ll eat whatever they can get their teeth on.

    • theneverfox@pawb.social
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      2 days ago

      The herbivore/carnivore/omnivore distinction is pretty stupid to begin with

      There are a few animals that have a single food source. There are many that require certain things in their diet. There’s basically nothing that exclusively eats meat (although there’s many who need it) and there’s few if any “herbivore” that won’t take a little extra protein if they don’t have to chase it

    • entwine413@lemm.ee
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      2 days ago

      Are there any actual obligate herbivores? I think most of them will eat small animals if they’re low on calcium and such.

      • phx@lemmy.ca
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        2 days ago

        When I think herbivore cows are pretty high in the list, but I’ve seen more than one video of a cow eating a chick along with her diet of grass

      • Ryktes@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        There’s a handful of bird species that can only eat stuff like nuts, berries, and seeds. Koalas. And I vaguely remember something about a couple kinds of sloths that only eat like, leaves, grass, and flowers?

        • MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip
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          10 hours ago

          Oh and that weird tree ferret thing with a red nose that only eats alcoholic fruits. What was it again?

  • TRBoom@lemm.ee
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    2 days ago

    I’ve always wondered if Hippos hate us so much because they evolved alongside us.