Want to Know it? Answers to life's questions » what do animals eat

What Do Vultures Eat

Want to know it — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:34:23 +0000

Vultures are large scavenging birds that are broadly categorized into Old and New World Vultures. New World Vultures are found in North and South America and Old World Vultures are found in Europe, Asia and Africa. The two groups of vultures are not closely related and both belong to separate families of birds. However, they do have many of the same traits including a similar diet.

What do vultures eat?
Vultures are primarily scavenging birds, which means that they mostly feed on dead animal carcasses. New World Vultures are able to find a carcass with the help of their impressive sense of smell, but Old World Vultures use only their sight. They will rarely attack a healthy living animal, but may kill a sick or wounded animal if another food source cannot be found. If a carcass has a thick hide they will wait for another animal to eat it first and then move in to pick at the remains. Scavengers, such as vultures, play a very important part in the ecosystem as they help to remove decaying matter. Vultures have extremely strong and corrosive stomach acid, which allows them to eat rotting carcasses that are infected with dangerous bacteria. This means that vultures can safely eat a carcasses that most other animals cannot eat.

Did you know?
All of the species from the New World Vultures group can vomit their stomach acid as a defense when threatened. They also urinate down their legs which kills the bacteria that is picked up after standing on or near a carcass.

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What Do Chimpanzees Eat

Want to know it — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:42:49 +0000

Chimpanzees are one of two species of great ape that belong to the same family as orangutans and gorillas. They are found in parts of western and central Africa and the two species are separated by the Congo River. The common chimpanzee is closely related to the other species, known as the bonobo. However, the diet of the two species is actually quite different. If you want to know more about what the two species eat, keep reading to find out.

What do chimpanzees eat?
The common chimpanzee is an omnivore (eats plant and animal matter). They will eat fruit, leaves, nuts, and other parts of a plant. They also eat insects, birds, eggs, honey and small-medium mammals, which includes other primates. They are known for using tools to help them collect food, such as using a long stick to extract honey from a beehive. They are also known for hunting small monkeys in teams with different roles in the hunt. They distribute the meat from the hunt between all of the hunters.

The Bonobo is almost completely frugivorous (a fruit eater). However, they supplement this diet with leaves. They have also been known to eat small animals and, in rare cases, other primates. It has also been suggested that the bonobo may practice cannibalism in rare circumstances and there is one confirmed report of this in the wild.

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What do Skunks Eat

Want to know it — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:14:00 +0000

Skunks are mammals best known for their ability to shoot a foul smelling liquid from their anal scent glands. They were once classified in the same family as weasels, otters and badgers. However, they are now classified within their own family. There are 12 species of skunks, which vary in both size and color. The well known white and black fur coloration is the most common, but some species are brown, cream or gray. If you want to know the common diet of the skunk, keep reading to find out.

What do skunks eat?
Skunks are omnivores (eat both plant and animal matter) and are able to modify their diets depending on what is available. Skunks most commonly eat insects, rodents, birds, lizards, frogs, snakes, earthworms, larvae and eggs. They also eat leaves, grass, nuts, berries, roots and other fruit. At times skunks will move into areas inhabited by humans and they may eat garbage and pet food where it is available. Skunks do not hibernate in winter, but will rarely feed during this time.

Did you know?
Skunks are also known to prey on honeybees. They begin this process by scratching at the front of hive to attract the attention of the guard bees, which they then eat! The thick fur of the skunk protects them from the bee stings. This behavior is passed down from the mother to her young.

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What Do Roadrunners Eat

Want to know it — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:41:26 +0000

Roadrunners are birds from the cuckoo family. There are two species of roadrunners known as the greater roadrunner and the lesser roadrunner. Both species are found in Central America and in the southern parts of North America. The name comes from the fact that these birds prefer to run than fly. They have been known to reach speeds of 42 km/h (26 mph) while running. They often use this incredible speed to catch their food. Let’s take a look at the diet of these birds.

What do roadrunners eat?
Roadrunners are omnivores (eat plants and animals) and are opportunistic feeders. This means that they will eat almost anything that is available. Their standard diet usually consists of insects, (grasshoppers, beetles, crickets), small reptiles (lizards and snakes), small mammals, rodents (rats, mice, voles), spiders, scorpions, snails and even smaller birds! The roadrunner will also feed on dead animal carcasses, including roadkill. They will also eat many different types of fruit and seeds.

Roadrunners do not like to fly and instead forage on the ground. They are known for hiding in cover and then ambushing prey by chasing after it. They may leap or fly for a short burst to catch insects. When they catch a snake they will hold it in their beak and bash it on the ground to kill it. Although they usually kill small snakes roadrunners have been known to do this to larger snakes, including rattlesnakes!

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What do Fireflies Eat

Want to know it — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 00:40:19 +0000

Despite their name fireflies are not actually flies at all. They are winged beetles best known for their bright light emitted from special organs on their abdomen. It is a spectacular site when a group of fireflies swarm together at night. The larvae of the firefly also emit light and are often known as “glowworms.” If you have ever wondered what these interesting insects eat, keep reading to find out.

What do fireflies eat?
Fireflies begin their lifecycle when the female lays her fertilized eggs on the ground in an area rich in food. These eggs hatch into larvae a few weeks later and feed until the end of summer. Most species of firefly larvae are predatory and eat snails, slugs and other larvae. They hibernate underground over winter and emerge to feed for several more weeks before pupating to become adult fireflies.

The diet of the adult firefly is varied depending on the species. Many remain predators during adulthood, but some switch to feeding on planet pollen or nectar.

Did you know?
Fireflies are not commonly eaten by other predators because they taste bad. Some species are even poisonous. The light emissions in the larvae stage are used to serve as a warning to predators that they would not make a good snack! It was thought that the light emissions in adult fireflies served the same purpose, but it is now thought that these are used for selecting a mate.

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What Do Guinea Pigs Eat

Want to know it — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:32:28 +0000

Guinea pigs, also known as cavy, is a domesticated rodent that originated from the Andes in South America. They were originally domesticated for their meat, but today they are a popular pet. They make great pets for children because they get used to being handled and they are not known for biting or scratching. Let’s take a look at the normal diet of these cute creatures.

What do guinea pigs eat?
The natural diet of the guinea pig is grass. Interestingly guinea pigs also create special soft pellets of feces (poop) that they eat to recycle B vitamins, fiber, and the bacteria they need for digestion.

What to feed a pet guinea pig?
Guinea pigs can be fed fresh grass or hay together with specialized pellets designed to meet their nutritional needs. Many people also feed their pets alfalfa, although some controversy exists about this practice. Like humans, guinea pigs must get all of their vitamin c from food sources otherwise they can get scurvy. To prevent this they can be fed fresh fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamin c such as; apple, broccoli, celery, carrot, cabbage and spinach. They also require many other nutrients, which can be obtained through specially formulated food or with a balanced diet.

Did you know?
The term “guinea pig” is often used to relate to a test subject. This came about because guinea pigs were once commonly used in scientific experimentation. They are still used for this purpose today, but make up only about 2% of all animal testing.

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What do Prairie Dogs Eat

Want to know it — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 00:58:35 +0000

Prairie dogs are a rodent that belong to the ground squirrel family. They are native to the continent of North America and can be found in the United States, Canada and Mexico. There are five species of prairie dogs. They get their name from the fact that their warning call sounds similar to the bark of a dog. Prairie dogs are an important prey species for many larger animals. If you want to know what these creatures eat, keep reading to find out.

What do prairie dogs eat?
Prairie dogs are considered to be herbivores (plant eaters), but they are known to eat insects such as grasshoppers. Their diet consists mostly of a wide variety of grasses, but they often switch to flowering plants during fall. They also eat seeds, roots, weeds, buds and fruit. They are considered to be a pest in some agricultural situations where they may eat crops like alfalfa or corn. Interestingly, during winter a pregnant prairie dog will eat snow for the water content.

What do prairie dogs eat in captivity?
Prairie dogs are not often kept as pets because they are susceptible to diseases that can be transferred to humans. When in captivity prairie dogs are fed diets of specific grass and hay. They may also be fed fruits, vegetables or supplements to meet their nutritional needs.

Watch this video of the prairie dogs eating at the Staten Island Zoo.

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What Do Geckos Eat

Want to know it — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:00:51 +0000

Geckos make up the largest family of lizards in the world. There are over 2000 known species of geckos and many more are thought to exist. They are unique amongst lizards because they make chirping sounds when interacting with other geckos. Another unique feature is the adhesion ability of their footpads. This allows them to stick to most surfaces without a sticky liquid. If you have ever wanted to know what these interesting creatures eat, continue reading to find out.

What do wild geckos eat?
Geckos have a similar diet to most other lizards, but there are some differences. Geckos are carnivores (meat eaters), and their main diet is made up of insects such as cockroaches, beetles, crickets. However, they also eat spiders, worms, eggs and tiny mammals (like baby mice). Some species of geckos have been known to feed on small birds or smaller geckos!

What do pet geckos eat?
The majority of pet geckos are fed crickets with the odd waxworm or mealworm as a treat. They are also commonly given cereal, vegetables or fruits to meet all of their nutritional requirements. Some species of geckos require a multivitamin supplement when in captivity. If you have a baby gecko it should be fed fruit, with a similar consistency as human baby food, and small crickets.

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What Do Hamsters Eat

Want to know it — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:07:56 +0000

Hamsters are a small rodent that burrow underground during daylight hours. There are 25 different species of hamsters, including the Golden Hamster which is the most common species kept as a pet. They are a popular animal for children because they are very tame and are happy to be kept alone. Hamsters are also used in medical research and animal testing. If you have ever wanted to know what hamsters eat, in captivity and in the wild, keep reading to find out.

What do pet hamsters eat?
A pet hamster needs a balanced diet to meet all of their nutritional requirements. They should be fed a mixture of seeds and grains such as; alfalfa, wheat, corn, oats, sunflower etc. Some manufacturers make hamster food that contains many different grains and seeds to meet the nutritional requirements. They should also have small amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables along with a little bit of cooked protein.

They should never be fed acidic foods, processed foods (especially chocolate) or anything that may have been contaminated by wild rats or mice. The latter could carry diseases that could spread to your hamster.

What do wild hamsters eat?
Wild hamsters are scavengers and will eat any seeds, buts, berries, fruit or vegetables that they can find. When food is scarce a hamster may eat small insects to survive. Interestingly, they have a pouch on each side of their head to store extra food.

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What do Opossums Eat

Want to know it — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 01:08:23 +0000

Opossums are a group of marsupials found in parts of North America. There are more than 100 species of Opossums and most species are about the size of a cat. They don’t live for very long (1-4 years is common) and are often killed by cars and larger species of animals. Let’s take a look at what these interesting animals eat.

What do Opossums Eat
Opossums are omnivores (plant and meat eaters) that feed primarily on dead animal carcass. Interestingly, many opossums are killed by cars while scavenging for roadkill. They will also eat insects, birds, frogs, fish, rodents, slugs, earthworms, small mammals and even snakes. Although they prefer meat, they also eat many different forms of plant matter such as fruit, vegetables and some grasses. Opossums are a true scavenger and will eat almost anything when they cannot find their preferred food.

Did you know?
Opossums can carry the rabies virus, but they are far more resistant to the virus than many other animals (only about 1 in 800 animals are infected). However, all wild opossums should be treated carefully to avoid exposure to the virus.

We already know that opossums have an amazing immune system. But, did you know that many species are partially or totally immune to certain snake venom!

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