planteater

Planteater is a non-technical, colloquial term used to describe any animal whose diet consists primarily of plant material. In scientific contexts, such animals are typically described as herbivores, with more specific categories including folivores (leaves), frugivores (fruit), granivores (seeds), nectarivores (nectar), and other plant-based feeders. The term is not a formal taxonomic group.

While the label can apply to many species, anteaters are often miscalled planteaters in popular usage. In reality, most anteaters (such as the giant anteater) specialize in feeding on social insects and are insectivores rather than herbivores.

Herbivory is associated with several anatomical and physiological adaptations. Dentition tends to be flatter and broader for grinding plant matter, digestive systems are longer, and many herbivores rely on symbiotic gut microbes to break down cellulose. Some groups, like ruminants, have multi-chambered stomachs; others are hindgut fermenters.

Ecologically, planteaters influence plant communities through herbivory and seed dispersal. They can affect vegetation structure, pollination, and energy transfer in ecosystems. Many planteater species face threats from habitat loss, hunting, and fragmentation, with conservation efforts focused on habitat protection and sustainable management.