Michael Leach - Omnivores and Herbivores

This edition published in 2020 by Enslow Publishing, LLC 101 W. 23rd Street, Suite 240, New York, NY 10011 Copyright Arcturus Holdings Ltd 2020 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the publisher. Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Leach, Michael. | Lland, Meriel. Title: Omnivores and herbivores / Michael Leach and Meriel Lland.

Description: New York: Enslow Publishing, 2020. | Series: Animal explorers | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: ISBN 9781978509917 (library bound) | ISBN 9781978509894 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781978509900 (6 pack) Subjects: LCSH: OmnivoresJuvenile literature. | HerbivoresJuvenile literature. Classification: LCC QL756.5 L43 2020 | DDC591.53dc23 Printed in the United States of America To Our Readers: We have done our best to make sure all website addresses in this book were active and appropriate when we went to press. However, the author and the publisher have no control over and assume no liability for the material available on those websites or on any websites they may link to.

Any comments or suggestions can be sent by email to . Photo Credits: Every attempt has been made to clear copyright. Should there be any inadvertent omission, please apply to the publisher for rectification. Key: b-bottom, t-top, c-center, l-left, r-right Alamy: (Pascale Gueret). CONTENTSIntroduction An animal is a living organism made up of cells. It feeds, senses, and responds to its surroundings, moves, and reproduces.

Scientists have identified nearly nine million species of living animals, but there are many more to be found. Life Appears Single-celled life forms appeared around four billion years ago. Spongesthe first animalsappeared a billion years ago. Over time, more complicated animals evolved and some also became extinct. Dinosaurs were the dominant land animals for 165 million years before they died out 65 million years ago. Classifying Life Scientists organize living things into groups with shared characteristics.

The two main kinds of animal are ones with backbones (vertebrates) and ones without (invertebrates). Arthropods make up the biggest invertebrate group. They have segmented bodies and jointed limbs. Insects, spiders, and crabs are all arthropods. Warm- and Cold-Blooded Most animals are ectothermic, or cold-blooded. Their body temperature is controlled by their environment.

Mammals and birds are endothermic, or warm-blooded. Their bodies can generate their own heat, so they can survive in much colder habitats. Fragile Earth We are lucky to share our world with an extraordinary richness of animals. It is important to protect our wildlife. When humans pollute or damage the environment, we harm both animals and people. Animal Habitats The place where an animal lives is called its habitat. Animal Habitats The place where an animal lives is called its habitat.

Animals have evolved to inhabit just about every environment on Earth, from tropical rain forests and coral reefs to deserts, mountaintops, and ice floes. They even survive in cities. Omnivores and Herbivores Some mammals eat both meat and plants. These are the omnivores, adaptable species that survive on a wide variety of food. Herbivores are specialists that eat only vegetation leaves, grass, flowers, bark, and other plant parts. PLAINS ZEBRA EQUUS QUAGGA Habitat: Forests, grasslands, scrub; East and Southern Africa Length: Male 7.5 feet (2.3 m); female 6.6 feet (2 m) Weight: Male 661 pounds (300 kg); female 551 pounds (250 kg) Diet: Grass, low-growing plants Life span: Up to 25 years Wild population: 750,000; Near Threatened Varied Diet Omnivores have more choice than specialists.

They can eat foods that are in season and change their diet if a particular food source dries up. Digestive Challenges Plants are hard to digest. Some animals, such as rabbits, get around this by eating their droppings. As the food passes through the body a second time, they absorb any remaining goodness. Other animals simply take a long time to process their food. Elephants Elephants evolved 50 million years ago.

The two kinds alive today are African and Asian elephants. They live in family groups of up to 12 females and their calves, led by an older female called the matriarch. Adult male elephants live alone or in male-only herds. African or Asian? The African elephant is the worlds largest land animal. One male weighed 24,000 pounds (11,000 kg). Asian elephants are smaller and have smaller ears.

Their backs are flat or humped; the African elephants back has a dip in the middle. ASIAN ELEPHANT ELEPHAS MAXIMUS LARGEST OX Habitat: Forests, scrub; South Asia Length: Male 9.8 feet (3 m); female 8.9 feet (2.7 m) Weight: Male 9,920 pounds (4,500 kg); female 6,063 pounds (2,750 kg) Diet: Leaves, twigs, bark Life span: Up to 60 years Wild population: 40,000; Endangered Trunk Talk The elephants trunk is an extension of its nose and top lip. It is incredibly sensitive and versatile. It can carry food and water into the mouth, squirt water, or spray dust. It is also used to touch and stroke. Rhinos The rhinoceros is the second-largest land animal after the elephant.

It has a sturdy body, tough skin, and one or two defensive horns. There are five species. The white rhino and black rhino both live in Africa. The Indian, Javan, and Sumatran rhinos live in Asia. Rhino Communications Scent is very important for rhinos. The largest part of their brain is devoted to processing it, and they mark their territory with dung and urine.

Rhinos also use sound to communicate. They make an assortment of noises including squeals, snorts, growls, and moos. WHITE RHINOCEROS CERATOTHERIUM SIMUM HORNED BEAST WITH A FLAT NOSE Habitat: Grasslands; East and Southern Africa Length: Male 13 feet (4 m); female 11.8 feet (3.6 m) Weight: Male 5,512 pounds (2,500 kg); female 4,409 pounds (2,000 kg) Diet: Grass, low-growing plants Life span: Up to 50 years Wild population: 20,000; Vulnerable Rhinos in Danger All five rhino species are under threat. Some people believe that powdered rhinoceros horn cures diseases. This isnt true, but the belief fuels an illegal trade of rhino horn and causes the slaughter of many animals. Giraffes The giraffe is the worlds tallest animal, standing up to 18.7 feet (5.7 m) high.