Animal Diet Glossary

• Polyphagy: “The habit of feeding on many different kinds of food.”

Most large animals will feed on multiple foods. For example, a cheetah is a carnivore but will eat different meats such as rabbits, antelopes, warthogs and ostrich.

• Monophagy: “Feeding on only one kinds of food.”

Some animals will only eat one specific kind of food, often known as ‘specialists’. An example of a specialist animal is the koala, which only eats eucalyptus leaves.

The suffixes of most of the following words are either ‘vore’ which is derived from the Latin word ‘vorare’ meaning ‘to devour’ or ‘phagy’, which is derived from the Greek word ‘φαγειν’ meaning ‘to eat’.

Carnivore	An animal that eats the meat from other animals.	Grey wolf (Canis lupus) Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Araneophagy	Feeding on or eating spiders.	Blackbird (Turdus merula) Cellar spider (Pholicidae) Common toad (Bufo bufo)
Avivore	Feeding on or eating birds.	Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) Goliath birdeater (Theraphosa blondi)
Durophagy	The consumption of hard-shelled organisms (coral, invertebrates and bamboo)	Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Bullhead shark (Heterodontus) Crown of thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci)
Haematophagy	Feeding on blood	Vampire bat (Desmodontinae) Mosquito (female only) (Culicidae) Lamprey (Petromyzontiformes)
Insectivore	Feeding on insects	Giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) Praying mantis (Mantodea) Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)
Myrmecophagy	Feeding on ants and/or termites	Pangolin (Pholidota) Echidna (Tachyglossidae) Ant mimic jumping spider (Myrmarachne)
Invertivore	Feeding on invertebrates	Common frog (Rana temporaria) European headgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) Armadillo (Dasypodidae)
Ceratophagy	Feeding on the hair of animals	Common clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) Dermestid beetle larvae (Dermestidae)
Lepiodophagy	Feeding on fish scales	Bucktooth tetra (Exodon paradoxus) Elongate glassy perchlet (Chanda nama) Target fish (Terapon jarbua)
Molluscivore	Feeding on molluscs	Oystercatcher (Haematopus) Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) Cone snail (Conidae)
Mucophagy	Feeding on mucus	Sea lice (Caligidae) Vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis)
Ophiophagy	Feeding on snakes	Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius) Mongoose (Herpestidae) Common kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula)
Oophagy	Feeding on eggs	Shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) Crow (Corvus) Hedgehog (Erinaceinae)
Piscivore	Feeding on fish	Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)
Spongivore	Feeding on sponges	Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate) Emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) Sea slugs (Nudibranch)
Teuthophagore	Feeding on cephalopods	Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) Blue shark (Prionace glauca) Pyjama shark (Poroderma africanum)
Vermivore	Feeding on worms	American robin (Turdus migratorius) Long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus) Kiwi (Apteryx)
Herbivore	Feeding on plants	Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Red deer (Cervus elaphus) White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)
Exudativore / Gumivore	Feeding on gum, tree sap, resin	Black-tufted marmoset (Callithrix penicilata) Forked-marked lemur (Phaner) Leadbeaters possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri)
Folivore	Feeding on leaves	Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin) Two-toed sloth (Choloepus) Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus)
Florivore	Feeding on flowers	European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Yellow-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulata) Fallow deer (Dama dama)
Frugivore	Feeding on fruits	Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) Orangutan (Pongo) Gray-bellied night monkey (Aotus lemurinus)
Graminovore	Feeding on grasses	Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
Garnivore	Feeding on seeds	Tree sparrow (Passer montanus) Western scrub jay (Aphelocoma californica) Grey squirrel (Sciurus caeolinensis)
Nectarivore	Feeding on nectar	Australian painted lady (Vanessa kershawi) Honey possum (Tarsipes rostratus) Grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)
Polynivore	Feeding on pollen	Bees (Anthophila) Ladybird (Coccinellidae) Hoverfly (Syrphidae)
Xylophagy	Feeding on wood	Termite (Isoptera) Bark beetle (Scolytinae) Naval shipworm (Teredo navalis)
Omnivore	Feeding on animals and plants	Coati (Nasua / Nasuella) Brown bear (Ursus arctos) Darwin’s rhea (Rhea pennata)
Fungivore	Feeding on fungus	Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) Gray jay (Perisoreus canadensis) Land slugs (Philomycidae)
Bacterivore	Feeding on bacteria	Vorticella campanula Paramecium
Planktivore	Feeding on plankton	Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) Bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus)
Coprophagy	Feeding on feaces	Oriental latrine fly (Chrysomya megacephala) European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber)
Detritivore	Feeding on decomposing material	Earthworm (Megadrilacea) Woodlouse (Oniscidea) Fiddler crab (Uca)
Geophagy	Feeding on inorganic earth, soil, clay	Red and green macaw (Ara chloropterus) Bats (Chiroptera) Chimpanzee (Pan)
Osteophagy	Feeding on bones	Desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) Brown bear (Ursus arctos) Giraffe (Giraffa Camelopardalis)
Scavenger	Feeding on carrion	Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) Yellowjacket (Vespula / Dolichovespula) Red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri)
Cannibalism	Feeding on members of the same species	Mormon cricket (Anabrus simplex) Praying mantis (Mantodea) Belding’s ground squirrel (Urocitellus beldingi)

Ethiopian Wolf (Canis simensis)

• Name: Ethiopian wolf
• Latin: Canis simensis
• Classification: Mammal
• Origin: Ethiopia, Africa
• Lifespan: 8-10 years
• AKA: Red fox, red jackal, simien fox

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)
Phylum: Chordata (Vertebrates)
Class: Mammalia (Mammals)
Order: Carnivora (Carnivores)
Family: Canidae (Dogs)
Genus: Canis (Wolves, Dogs and Jackals)
Species: Canis Simensis (Ethiopian Wolf)

Apperance

Length: Average of 3.3ft
Weight: 24-42lbs

The Ethiopian wolf is very fox-like in appearance with its long legs and muzzle more pointed that its European cousins. It has a reddish coat with white underside and a black tip to its tail. The colour of its fur often gets darker with age.

Relatives

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• Grey wolf (Canis lupus) -LEAST CONCERN-
• Red wolf (Canis rufus) -CRITICALLY ENDANGERED-
• Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) -NEAR THREATENED-
• Himalayan wolf (Canis himalayaensis) -CRTICALLY ENDANGERED-

Habitat & Distribution

Packs of Ethiopian wolves tend to live in isolated pockets of alpine grassland and Heathland where there are plenty of rodents to feast on. They live at high altitudes of 3,000 meters above ground level in Ethiopia, Africa.

The rainfall at these high altitudes varies between 1-2m/year and have one pronounced dry seasons from December to February/March.

Map of distribution of the Ethiopian wolf

Diet

Ethiopian wolves are carnivores and their diet mainly consists of the rodents that are abundant in their homes. They will hunt and eat hares, giant mole rats and common grass rats. They have also been known to feed on eggs, goslings and young ungulates and will occasionally scavenge on carcasses.

They have strong social bonds but spend most of their day hunting alone. They hunt by sneaking up of their prey silently and pouncing when close enough.

Behaviour

Ethiopian wolves form strong social bonds with others in their pack but spend the majority of each day hunting individually for rodents. They are territorial candids that form territorial packs. The packs contain roughly 12 adults with a skewed mating ratio with several males for each female.

They congregate for social greetings and border patrols at dawn, noon and evenings and rest together at night. They use scent to mark their territories via urine posts, scratching and faeces. Vocalizations are also common in advertising and maintaining territories.

Aggressive interactions with neighbouring packs are common. These are always highly vocal and always end with the smaller pack fleeing from the larger.

Reproduction

Mating between Ethiopian wolves occurs between August and November. This includes a short courtship which involves the male accompanying the female wherever she goes. Females are receptive to all males including those outside the pack. Up to 70% of matings involve male from outside the pack.

The females give birth once a year between October and December. The pups are born with their eyes close, no teeth and a dark coat, the latter of which becomes lighter once they leave the den. This occurs about 3 weeks after birth. The pups are kept in a den dug by the female and are regularly shifted between dens to ensure their safety.

It is the responsibility of all members of the pack to help guard the den, chase away potential predators and bring hunted food to the pups. Subordinate females may assist the dominant female in suckling her pups. At least half of the extra nursing females show signs of pregnancy and may have lost or deserted their own offspring before joining the dominant females den.

Ethiopian wolf cubs

Adaptations

1. The Ethiopian wolf has a narrow, pointed muzzle, ideal for fitting into rat holes to catch their prey.
2. The Ethiopian wolf has small, widely spaced teeth which helps it to hold on to small, wriggling animals.
3. The Ethiopian wolf tends to hunt alone which matches the habits of its prey. A large pack is not required for taking down rodents and the wolf does not have to share his kill with others.
4. The dark orange colouring of the Ethiopian wolf’s fur provides excellent camouflage for it, meaning it can sneak up on its prey undetected.

Threats

Ethiopian wolves are one of the most endangered species of canine with their worldwide population being less that 500 separated into only seven isolated populations. They live in packs in altitudes as high as 10,500 feet.

Their threats include destruction of habitat by human populations to make way for farmland, roads and areas for livestock grazing. This loss of habitat forces them closer to humans, which is the cause of another of their threats. Ethiopian wolves can catch disease from domestic dogs, such as rabies and sometimes canine distemper.

Another big killer of these wolves is the hunting and poisoning of them by human farmers. It is widely believed that they hunt and eat the farmer’s livestock. However, this belief is in fact false. Ethiopian wolves feed primarily on rodents, and hunt solitary. A singly wolf would not be able to take down an animal such as a cow or even a pig on its own.

Conservation

IUCN Status: Endangered

There is a huge organisation designed solely to protect the Ethiopian wolf called the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP). It was founded in 1995 by Dr. Claudio Sillero. The strategies designed for the conservation of this wolf also protects the fragile afroalpine ecosystem of Ethiopia, Africa.

The EWCP protected the Ethiopian wolf by monitoring their numbers and where they live. It also vaccinates domestic dogs to reduce the spread of disease, provides a comprehensive education programme for local school children and employs local residents which raises the standards of living of the people of Ethiopia and in turn raises motivation to protect the wolf.

Fun Facts

Male: Brute
Female: Bitch
Young: Pup
Group: Pack

-Is an animal of many names including Abyssinian Fox, Red Fox, Red Jackal, Simien Fox and Simien Jackal.
-They are more closely related to wolves and coyotes than to the foxes they so closely resemble.
-They live in packs which involve about 3-13 individuals.
-One of the most endangered animals on the planet with less than 500 individuals.

Coyote (Canis latrans)

• Name: Coyote
• Latin: Canis latrans
• Classification: Mammal
• Origin: North America
• Lifespan: 10-15 years
• AKA: American jackal, prairie wolf

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)
Phylum: Chordata (Vertebrates)
Class: Mammalia (Mammals)
Order: Carnivora (Carnivores)
Family: Canidae (Dogs)
Genus: Canis (Wolves, dogs and jackals)
Species: Canis Latrans (Coyote)

Apperance

Length: 30-34inches Tail: 12-16inches
Height: 23-26inches
Weight: 15-45lbs

The Coyote is grey-brown to yellow-grey in colour and have white throats and underbellies. They have reddish-brown feet, fore legs, heads and muzzles and their drooping, bush tails are tipped with black.

Their ears are large and pointed and their muzzles are long and slender. While running they carry their tails below the horizontal line of their backs, a trait that distinguishes them from dogs and wolves.

Relatives

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• Grey wolf (Canis lupus) -LEAST CONCERN-
• Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) -LEAST CONCERN-
• Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) -NEAR THREATENED-
• Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) -LEAST CONCERN-

Habitat & Distribution

The coyote’s habitat can be anywhere. They can be found in forests, plains and even in deserts. As humans move into their homes they are forced to leave and set up residence elsewhere. However, they are extremely adaptable and can easily live anywhere.

The coyote can be found living in the middle of Alaska down towards Mexico. They also live in Canada and part of the United States of America.

Map of distribution of the coyote

Diet

Coyotes are opportunistic and can and will eat almost anything they come across. Their broad diet can include small mammals such as chipmunks, rabbits and squirrels, as well as birds, snakes, lizards, frogs and toads. They will also hunt and eat small dogs and cats and even larger domestic animals such as sheep and goats.

Coyotes will hunt day or night, alone or in packs. When hunting in packs they can take down large prey such as adult deer and elk. They have also been known to wander in to urban towns and rummage through rubbish bins for scraps.

Probably their most intriguing feeding behaviour is that where it teams up with American badgers to hunt for food. The coyote will use its excellent sense of smell to sniff out small rodents hiding underground; the badger will then use its powerful claws to dig them out. The two will then share their winnings.

Behaviour

Coyotes have been observed travelling in large groups but primarily hunt in pairs. A typical pack will consist of about 6 closely related adults and their young. Their social behaviour seems to be closer to dingo’s than of wolves, this is because they have an early expression to aggression and they reach full growth in one year, where wolves take two years to be fully grown.

They car capable of digging their own burrows but will sometimes take the abandoned home of groundhogs or American badgers. Their territorial range is about 19 kilometres in diameter around their den and travel occurs along fixed trails. They also seem to be better than dogs at observational learning.

Reproduction

Reproduction happens between late January and late March, when the female is in heat. She will stay in heat for 2-5 days. Once a female chooses a partner, the couple may remain monogamous for a number of years.

The gestation period lasts 60-63 days and the litter size ranges from 1-19 pups (the average is 6). The pups however, have a high mortality rate, with 50-70% not reaching adulthood.

The pups are approximately 250g at birth and are initially blind and limp eared. Their eyes open and their ears become erect after about 10 days. They emerge from their den 21-28 days after birth and are fully weaned after 35 days. Both parents will feed weaned pups with regurgitated food. Male pups will leave the den at 6-9 months, but females will stay with the pack for life.

Coyotes are full grown at 9-12 months and sexual maturity is reached at 12 months. Unlike wolves, mothering coyotes will tolerate other lactating females in the pack.

Young coyote cubs vocalising

Adaptations

1. The coyote can adjust its hunting style to suit the prey. If it is hunting small animals it will stalk and pounce, and if it is after something bigger, such as a deer, it will hunt in a pack.
2. The scent of coyote urine is extremely strong and can scare away predators from its territory.
3. The coyote has very thick coat over the most vulnerable parts of its body, such as the stomach and throat. This protects them from injury.
4. The coyote has a very good sense of smell and uses this to track down its prey.

Threats

Coyotes have few predators, but the few they have include the mountain lion and the wolf. The pups are also preyed upon by large birds of prey (vulture) and also wolves. They are also shot by humans, mainly because they prove themselves to be a nuisance by going through rubbish bins and killing livestock. They are also shot for sport.

Another threat to coyote populations is their high mortality rate. 50-70% of pups will not reach adulthood.

Conservation

IUCN Status: Least Concern

There is no real need for conservation efforts for the coyote as their numbers are already high, and are kept high due to their amazing ability to adapt.

Humans also make sure their populations don’t dwindle because of their love for hunting and coyotes are a common target.

Fun Facts

Male: Yote
Female: Bitch
Young: Pup
Group: Pack, Band, Rout

Coyotes will follow circling birds, knowing they will lead them to dead meat.
In North American stories, Coyotes are clever and tricky.
They are North American fasted mammal, and can run at speeds of 65kpm.

Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)

(http://www.arkive.org/aardvark/orycteropus-afer/image-G34981.html)

• Name: Aardvark
• Latin: Orycteropus afer
• Classification: Mammal
• Origin: Africa
• Lifespan: 15-20 years
• AKA: Antbear, anteater, Cape anteater, earth hog, earth pig

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Animalia (animals)
• Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates)
• Class: Mammalia (mammals)
• Order: Tubulidentata (afrotherian mammals)
• Family: Orycteropodidae (aardvark)
• Genus: Orycteropus (aardvark)
• Species: Orycteropus afer (aardvark)

Apperance

• Length: Body – 3-5ft (90-150cm) Tail – 1.2-2ft (45-60cm)
• Height: 2ft (60cm)
• Weight: 100-170lbs (45-77kg)

The aardvark has a bulky body and a humped back. The head is long and narrow and ends in a pig-like snout. The ears are very long and can move independently of each other. The mouth contains 20 teeth which are located at the back of the jaw, they are unusual in that they do not stop growing and they have no roots or enamel. Its mouth also has a 1.5ft (45cm) long tongue which is thin and sticky.

The legs of the aardvark are short and powerful and end with webbed feet. The front feet have four toes and the back have five. The body has thick, pink-grey skin that protects the animal from insect bites and is sparsely covered with bristly hairs which are yellowish or brownish grey in colour.

Relatives

The aardvark is the only member in its taxonomic family.

Habitat & Distribution

Aardvarks can be found in all regions of Africa including dry savannahs and rainforests. Their habitat requirements include sufficient termites for food, access to water and sandy or clay soil. If the soil is too hard, they will move to areas where digging is easier.

Aardvarks are widely distributed in Africa, south of the Saharah. They range from Senegal, east to Ethiopia and south to South Africa. They are absent from the Namib Desert in south-western Africa.

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Aardvark)

Diet

The aardvarks diet is primarily made up of ants, termites and other insects which it digs from the ground using its powerful forepaws and eat with its sticky, foot-long tongue. While foraging at night, the aardvark will press its nose to the ground and follow a zigzag motion to pick up scents of termite mounds and can cover an average of 6 miles in this manner. The same route will be repeated once a week. To obtain water, the aardvark will dig up and eat wild cucumber plants.

Behaviour

Aardvarks and solitary creatures and have never been found in large numbers. They are nocturnal and rely on their sense of smell to locate termites. In one night, they can cover 1.3-3 miles (2-5 kilometres) at a rate of 1,640 feet (500 meters) per hour.

Aardvarks are well known for their digging abilities and can burrow 3.3ft (1m) deep faster than a group of six adults with shovels. When digging, they will push dirt backwards with their claws and the tail will sweep it away. If threatened and cannot escape, the aardvark will lie on its back and fight with all four feet.

Reproduction

The mating season of the aardvark varies according to region. In some areas, these animals will mate in April to May and their offspring will be born in October to November, in other areas they females will give birth in May or June.

The gestation period of the aardvark is seven months and will give birth to one offspring at a time. The young are pink and hairless at birth and weigh approximately 4 pound (2 kilograms). The young will remain in the mother burrow for two weeks, after which it will follow her on the nightly search for food. The young aardvarks will live on their mother’s milk until around three months of age, at which they will be weaned onto solids.

The young leave the mothers burrow after six months but will build their own burrows nearby. The males will leave the mothers completely during the next mating season and the females will remain with their mother until her next young is born.

Adaptations

• The aardvark has a long, snake-like tongue covered in sticky mucus. This is used to scoop up ants and other insects from their underground nests. A single aardvark can eat up to 50,000 insects in a single night using its tongue.
• The aardvark has thick, powerful claws on its forelegs which are used for destroying ant and termite nests and for digging new burrows.
• The aardvark has more olfactory lobes than any other mammal giving it advanced hearing and smell. These senses are used to detect insects in their underground homes and potential predators.
• Aardvarks are nocturnal and solitary. This makes it difficult for predators to catch them as many only hunt during the day.

Threats

Aardvark numbers have been reduced in some areas throughout its range due to human activity and the destruction of its habitat. It is commonly hunted for its meant and other products. The skin, claws and teeth are used to make bracelets and charm, while the hairs are sometimes reduced to a powder and become a potent poison when added to beer.

The habitat of the aardvark is often lost to some forms of agriculture, for example, intensive crop farming. However, cattle farming is beneficial as it improves the habitat for termites. They are also persecuted as their burrows can cause damage to farming equipment, roads, dam walls and fences.

Their natural predators include lions, leopards, hyenas and pythons.

Conservation

• IUCN Status: Least Concern

The aardvark population is currently in large numbers throughout its range and can be found in a number of large and well-managed protected areas. Therefore, there are is no need for any major conservation methods for this species.

Fun Facts

• Male: Boar
• Female: Sow
• Young: Cub
• Group: Pack, Grouping

• Aardvark means ‘Earth Pig’ in Afrikanns.
• An aardvarks claws are as strong as a pick axe.
• When disturbed, an aardvark will squeal like a pig.
• Aardvarks are the only animal in their order.

References

• 13 Amazing Anomalies about the Aardvark [Online] Available at: http://13-fun-facts.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/13-amazing-anomalies-about-aardvark.html[Accessed: 2 September 2013]
• Aardvark [Online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Aardvark#intro [Accessed: 11 June 2013]
• Aardvark [Online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aardvark [Accessed: 11 June 2013]
• Aardvark [Online] Available at: http://www.bronxzoo.com/animals-and-exhibits/animals/mammals/aardvark.aspx [Accessed: 24 August 2013]
• Aardvark [Online] Available at: http://designeranimals.wikispaces.com/Aardvark [Accessed: 28 August 2013]
• Aardvark: Earth Pig, Ant Bear [Online] Available at: http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/animals1/aardvark/aardvark.html [Accessed: 12 August 2013]
• Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) [Online] Available at: http://www.arkive.org/aardvark/orycteropus-afer/ [Accessed: 2 September 2013]
• Aardvark: Tubulidentata – Behaviour and Reproduction [Online] Available at: http://animals.jrank.org/pages/3204/Aardvark-Tubulidentata-BEHAVIOR-REPRODUCTION.html [Accessed: 24 August 2013]
• Orycteropus afer [Online] Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41504/0 [Accessed: 2 September 2013]