What name is given to animals which only eat plants?

Herbivores.

Animals that exclusively consume plant material are termed “herbivores.” This dietary preference defines a significant group within the animal kingdom, encompassing a diverse array of species that have adapted over millions of years to a plant-based diet. The term “herbivore” comes from the Latin words “herba,” meaning grass or herb, and “vorare,” meaning to eat or devour.

Herbivores play a crucial role in the ecosystem, acting as primary consumers that transfer the energy from sunlight-harvested plants up the food chain to carnivores and omnivores. By feeding on plants, herbivores also contribute to the shaping of natural landscapes and the maintenance of healthy plant communities, which can influence the overall biodiversity of an area.

The anatomy and physiology of herbivores are specifically adapted to their plant-based diet. Many large herbivores, such as elephants, deer, and giraffes, have specialized teeth designed for grinding leaves and branches. In contrast, some herbivores, like cows and sheep, have complex digestive systems with multiple stomach chambers that help break down tough plant fibers, a process aided by symbiotic bacteria that ferment the plant material.

Herbivores can be further classified based on the type of plant material they predominantly consume. For instance, “folivores” are herbivores that specialize in eating leaves, such as koalas and sloths, while “frugivores” prefer fruit, like many birds and bats. “Granivores” primarily consume seeds and are typically small mammals or birds, including various species of rodents and finches.

The diets of herbivores can vary widely depending on their environment and the availability of different types of plant matter. For example, in a tropical rainforest, herbivores may have access to a wide variety of fruits and leaves year-round, while in arid environments, herbivores might rely more on hardy shrubs and even cacti.

Herbivores are an integral part of the food web, providing essential services that include dispersing seeds, fertilizing the soil with their waste, and maintaining open spaces in forests and grasslands. Their interactions with plant life not only sustain their own lives but also support a wide array of other species, contributing to the ecological balance of their habitats.