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Herbivores
We're learning about
herbivores in science class. Mr. Sanders, our teacher, is
telling us everything about them, and we're learning so much.
The first thing we learned
is that herbivores are plant-eating mammals. Several groups
of mammals are adapted as herbivores. Rodents such as mice,
beavers, and squirrels, have large teeth for gnawing at the front
of their jaws, and many chewing and grinding teeth along the
side. They eat grass and leaves and are also able to gnaw
into tough foods like bark or nuts. Most rodents are small
animals. Rabbits and hares are not rodents, but they have the
same types of teeth and feed in similar ways.
Mr. Sanders went on to
explain that most of the big plant eaters are hoofed
mammals. There are two groups. The odd-toed hoofed
mammals include horses, tapirs, and rhinos. The other group
is called the even-toed group. This group includes deer,
camels, antelope, and cows. Some of these animals browse
leaves and twigs from bushes. Giraffes reach up high into
trees with their tongue and lips. The other hoofed animals
have broad lips to feed from the ground on tough grasses.
We learned that since plants
have little food value, herbivores have to eat a lot. They
spend most of the day feeding.
Next we're learning all
about carnivores and omnivores.
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