California ground squirrels hunt, kill and eat voles, reveals a study by UC Davis and UW-Eau Claire, sharing the first evidence of widespread carnivorous behavior among squirrels.
So school kinda lied to you. Herbivores and carnivores exist on a spectrum. The extremes are known as “obligates”. So an animal that lacks the ability to eat plants entirely is known as an “obligate carnivore.” Otherwise, the rest of animals are somewhere spread across the spectrum. Animals in this region are commonly known to eat what’s easily available with just a preference toward one end or the other.
So an animal that lacks the ability to eat plants entirely is known as an “obligate carnivore.”
Like house cats!
Edit: to those with reading comprehension issues, meat needs to be a part of their diet. That doesn’t mean they’ll never be seen eating things that aren’t meat.
Arent most/all rodents omnivorous? They might prefer to eat only grains or what not, but if pushed to starvation will readily eat meat to survive?
Edit- Seems I missed what’s remarkable about this, is they are actively hunting the Voles, not just being opportunistic.
So school kinda lied to you. Herbivores and carnivores exist on a spectrum. The extremes are known as “obligates”. So an animal that lacks the ability to eat plants entirely is known as an “obligate carnivore.” Otherwise, the rest of animals are somewhere spread across the spectrum. Animals in this region are commonly known to eat what’s easily available with just a preference toward one end or the other.
Like house cats!
Edit: to those with reading comprehension issues, meat needs to be a part of their diet. That doesn’t mean they’ll never be seen eating things that aren’t meat.
0% nutrition, 100% cromch.