The main difference between herbivores and carnivores is in teeth and biting. Carnivores have teeth and bite strength designed for tearing. The jaws of a carnivore are capable of biting with a great force. Carnivores are known as meat eaters.
The teeth of herbivores tend to be flatter and designed for chewing or grinding tough, stalky vegetation. The bite strength of a herbivore is less than that of a carnivore but is substantial enough to grind food into digestible portions.
Between the carnivores and herbivores are omnivores. Omnivores eat both meat and vegetation. The teeth of omnivores are well suited to do both, and the bite force of an omnivore is more than adequate to feed on either plant or meat as a food source. Carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores can be distinguished by skull sizes. As jaw and bite strength increase, so does the size of the skull of the animal.
The role of herbivores and carnivores in the food chain differs as well. Carnivores feed on herbivores and omnivores. By keeping the population in control, carnivores protect the food source of herbivores and omnivores from becoming scarce from overgrazing. Herbivores and omnivores, which are grazing animals, have to be in sufficient numbers to maintain the balance of food sources for carnivores. Because they rely on plants and seeds for their diets, herbivores when they poop spread undigested seeds into fertile areas which helps sustain the natural balance of plant life in an area.
Some examples of carnivores are wolves and mountain lions. Examples of herbivores are sheep, deer, and antelope. Both play a crucial role in the food chain and in sustaining wildlife.
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