The concept of diversity refers precisely to the variety of species that live on the planet, which have their own characteristics that define them as a group. Within the different features that identify the various animals we find their diet, an aspect that is undoubtedly vital for subsistence. Depending on the type of diet that an animal has, it is designated in one way or another and in this article on our site we will focus on the so-called granivorous animals.
Do you want to know what are the granivorous animals? Read on and discover the types that exist, what their diet is based on and some concrete examples.
What are granivorous animals?
Within the herbivorous animals we find the granivores. Granivorous animals are those that base their diet on grains or seeds, which would be the most appropriate term. In this sense, various species are adapted so that their diet and the nutrients they require are taken from this part of the plants, which is essential for the reproduction of many of them.
We can classify these animals into two types:
- Granivorous herbivores: they consume other vegetable sources in addition to seeds.
- Omnivorous granivores: include animals or their remains to a lesser extent.
Impact of granivorous animals on the ecosystem
It is important to mention that seed-based feeding is a process that establishes a plant-animal interaction of great ecological and evolutionary importance Regarding the first aspect, this is due to the fact that animals can consume the seeds before or after their dispersal, so there are differences if they eat the seeds directly from the plant, when they are still on it, or, for on the contrary, after they fall on the surface of the ground or even being buried. In general, seeds that remain on the mother plant or even in the soil near it are more likely to be eaten by animals than those that are dispersed, which move away from the plant of origin. Now, what exactly does this imply? As the seeds are eaten by an animal, the reproductive process of the plant is interrupted
Regarding the evolutionary aspect, in certain cases plants have developed defense mechanisms to prevent their seeds and animals from being consumed they have managed to evade these defenses to achieve their purpose and to be able to feed. We can also mention that undispersed seeds or those close to the mother plant will have some characteristics, mainly chemical, different from when they are dispersed, which could indicate the consumption preferences of granivorous species.
The foregoing then indicates that the mechanisms used by animals to consume seeds can vary depending on where they are and their conditions, because it is not the same to take a seed that is still inside the fruit and attached to the plant than eating one that is on the ground. On the other hand, the consumption of seeds by animals can have a significant impact on both the dispersal and the subsequent reproduction of plants because ingestion ends up preventing this process, as we have mentioned. In this regard, the idea has been suggested that certain species of animals introduced into crops, which feed on weed seeds, may be excellent biological controllers on this type of vegetation [1]
What do granivorous animals eat?
As we have mentioned, granivorous animals eat the seeds of plants, which are very diverse on the planet. Some examples of seeds that are consumed by the various species considered granivorous are:
- Wheat
- Rice
- Sorghum
- Corn
- Sunflower
- Pine tree
- Cherries
- Harmac
- Beech mast
- Walnuts
- Hemp
- Sesame
- Pumpkin
- Barley
- Hazelnut
- Coffee
Adaptations of granivorous animals
Depending on the type of food, animals have particular adaptations to be able to eat one or another type of diet, so that the mouth, teeth, digestive system and even the ability to take food are fit in a certain way. However, not all granivorous animals can consume seeds in the same way, some, for example, need them to begin to mature and even produce seedlings to ingest them, while others are specialized to take them in any state.
Regarding the adaptations of granivorous animals, in principle we can mention the mouth, which is one of the main structures to be able to carry this type of diet. Thus, we find that the mouth can be made up of a strong beak to be able to break the seeds, as in the case of birds. Another example is found in certain rodents that are endowed with strong incisor teeth with continuous growth during the life of the animal. In addition, we can mention some insects, such as species of ants, which have strong jaws, capable of breaking and consuming the seed tissue. But the mouth is not only used to break and consume the grains, but also certain rodents, such as some squirrels, use it to transport various seeds to the burrow or nest where they are stored.
Also, depending on the group of animals, there are certain adaptations in the digestive system for the consumption of seeds. An example is the gizzard or muscular stomach in birds, which lack teeth to grind food, but have this structure different from the true stomach, which has specialized tissues and uses small rocks consumed (gastroliths) by the animal to grind the food. Of course, it is also important to mention that in birds that do not consume seeds as their main source of food, this adaptation also plays a fundamental role.
On the other hand, certain rodents have a digestive system divided into two chambers, as well as a moderately complex large intestine and the presence of bacteria, which allows them to eat a diet mainly based on seeds or grains and extract from these the nutrients necessary for their subsistence.
Examples of granivorous animals
As we have seen throughout the article, in different groups of animals we find granivores, so that in insects, birds and mammals we have various examples. Let's learn about particular cases and the type of seeds they consume:
- Florida Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex badius): Primarily eats seeds of herbaceous plants.
- Various species of crickets (Teleogryllus emma, Velarifictorus micado, Loxoblemmus spp., among others): they feed on weed seeds.
- Bean weevils (Family Chrysomelidae): they consume seeds or grains of legumes.
- Coffee borer or weevil (Hypothenemus hampei): eat seeds and fruits of coffee plants.
- European hamster (Cricetus cricetus): feeds on legume seeds and nuts, among others. In this other article we explain what hamsters eat.
- Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris): eats coniferous seeds, beeches, acorns and nuts.
- Lesser Gerbil (Jaculus jaculus): Consumes desert plant seeds.
- Parrots (Family Psittacidae): Eats a wide variety of fruit seeds. In the article "What do parrots eat" you will find all the information.
- Wild canary (Serinus canaria): eats seeds of various herbaceous and fruit-bearing plants.
- Cockatoo (Nymphicus hollandicus): consumes seeds of various herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees, taken directly from the plant or dried from the I usually.
