fbpx

KidsKonnect

Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores Facts & Worksheets

Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores are animals classified based on the food they eat

Search for Worksheets

Worksheets /Science /Animals /Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores Facts & Worksheets

Premium
Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version   Download sample

Animals can be classified based on the food they eat. Animals that are plant eaters are called herbivores, meat-eaters are carnivores, and animals who eat both plants and meat are called omnivores.

See the fact file below for more information on Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores or alternatively, you can download our 29-page Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Herbivores

  • Animals that eat only plants and plant products are called herbivores.
  • They are referred to as the primary consumers.
  • Herbivores are usually at the second level of the energy pyramid.
  • The energy that herbivores need is high, so they are usually busy feeding themselves because they cannot survive without sufficient energy.
  • They use several defenses to protect themselves from their enemies.
  • Some have shells, poisons that they release from their body, and camouflage abilities.
  • Herbivores come in various sizes, and the world’s largest herbivore is the African elephant.

Types of Herbivores

  • Herbivores can either eat various plants or just one type of plant.
  • Herbivores such as fruit bats and flying foxes that consume only fruits are called frugivores.
  • Folivores are herbivores that mostly eat leaves.
  • Detritivores are those that eat dead plant materials only.
  • Herbivores that consume seeds are called granivores.
  • Nectar-eating herbivores are called nectarivores.
  • Xylophages are herbivores that eat wood.
  • Grazers are herbivores who depend on grass.
  • Two ways herbivores digest their food are through foregut fermentation and hindgut fermentation.
  • Animals with multiple chambers digest their food through foregut fermentation, while animals with single-chambered stomachs process their food through hindgut fermentation.
  • Herbivores such as cows and kangaroos are foregut fermenters, while horses and elephants fall under the hindgut fermenters.

Carnivores

  • Carnivores are animals that consume meat or animal flesh.
  • They hunt their prey to survive, and they are also referred to as predators.
  • Carnivores that consume herbivores are secondary consumers and are usually placed third in the energy pyramid.
  • Carnivores that eat other carnivores are called tertiary consumers and are at the fourth level of the energy pyramid.
  • Their bodies and characteristics are suitable for hunting.
  • However, some carnivores do not hunt and depend on dead or decaying animals for food.
  • These animals are called scavengers.
  • Carnivores who can only consume meat to survive are called obligate carnivores and they cannot digest plants properly.
  • An example of an animal under this category is a lion.
  • There are three distinctions of carnivores based on the meat that they eat.
  • Hypercarnivores have a 70 percent meat diet.
  • The rest of their energy is covered by consuming plants, fungi, and other nutrients.
  • All obligate carnivores are considered hypercarnivores.
  • Carnivores that consume 50 percent meat on their diet are called mesocarnivores.
  • To fill their energy, they can consume fungi, fruits, and vegetables.
  • Carnivores who consume less than 30 percent of meat are called hypocarnivores.
  • They also consume fish, berries, nuts, roots, and bulbs.
  • Some hypocarnivores are also considered omnivores, and the most common example is a bear.

Omnivores

  • Omnivores are animals who consume both plants and animals.
  • Although they eat plants, they cannot eat all types of them.
  • Omnivores are animals who consume both plants and animals.
  • Although they eat plants, they cannot eat all types of them.
  • Humans are also considered omnivores.
  • Omnivores are very adaptable in finding food in different places.
  • Some omnivores are also scavengers.
  • Like carnivores, omnivores are called secondary consumers.
  • They are also in the third trophic level in the energy pyramid.
  • Omnivores are believed to have better chances of living due to their diet.

Trophic Levels

  • In an ecological pyramid or food chain, the feeding position of organisms known as the trophic levels are represented.
  • The higher the trophic level, the lower energy they can get because organisms at the next level can only consume ten percent of the energy from the previous level.
  • It has two main categories, which are the autotrophs and the heterotrophs.
  • Autotrophs can produce their food from inorganic materials thus, often called producers.
  • Heterotrophs are organisms who depend on their energy by consuming other plants and animals.

Characteristics of Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores

Characteristics of herbivores, carnivores and omnivores

Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores across 29 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores – animals can be classified based on the food they eat.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores Facts
  • The Herbivores
  • Characteristics
  • True or False
  • Which Carnivore?
  • Draw and Tell
  • Kingdom
  • Classify and Illustrate
  • The Animal Song
  • Energy Pyramid
  • Animal Poster

Frequently Asked Questions

What are herbivores?

Herbivores are animals that eat plants and plant products only. Cows, rabbits, and grasshoppers are examples of herbivorous animals. 

What are the different kinds of herbivores?

Some herbivores consume only certain types of plants or even one type of plant only. Herbivores can be classified into different kinds according to the plant-based food they consume: folivores, detritivores, granivores, nectarivores, xylophages, and grazers. 

What are carnivores?

Carnivores are animals that eat animal flesh or meat. Wolves, lions, and sharks are examples of carnivorous animals that hunt other animals for food.

What are omnivores? 

Omnivores are animals that eat both plants and meat for survival. Dogs and cats are examples of omnivorous animals. As human beings who eat animal flesh and vegetables, we too are omnivores.

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, February 15, 2022

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

Related Resources