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A structure of classification of animals
Types of animals
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Animals are a living organism that typically having specialized sense organs and nervous system and able to respond rapidly to stimuli (Animal, n.d.). Animals typically move, in one way or another and to feed on other living organisms (Animal, n.d.). In general, animal can be classified according to the type of food they eat, which is; carnivores, herbivores and omnivores (refer to Figure 1 in Appendix 1).
The first type of animal according to the diet is a carnivore. Carnivores’ diets typically span the range of prey species they are able to kill and tend to be nested within one another (Justina, Kent, Robert, & Joel, 2005). Carnivore is an animal that gets food from killing and eating other animals, also known as meat eater (Carnivore, n.d.). Carnivores live in virtually every habitat on earth such as short grassland, sparse woodland, desert, thick tropical forest, oceanic waters and arctic icecap (David & Roland, 2005). Carnivores are sub-divided into two groups: land carnivore and aquatic carnivore. The nine land families;Canidae, Felidae, Ursidea, Procyonidae, Mustelidae, Mephitidae, Herpestidae, Viverridae, and Hyaenidae and three aquatic families; Otariidae, Phocidae and Odobenidae (Carnivore, n.d.).
Land carnivores either walk on the soles and heels of their feet or on their toes. Dog, wolves, bears, raccoons and civets are examples of land carnivore. A combination of strong bones in the feet and bendable wrists allow these animals to climb, run, jump, and overcome their prey. On the other hand, aquatic carnivores including eared seals, true seals, and walruses have a torpedo-shaped body that allows for easy movement through the water. The thick layer of blubber, or fat under their skin, not only provides insulation but ...
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...es of the world. America, US: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
Justina,C.R., Kent,H.R., Robert,S.S., &Joel,B. (Eds). (2005). Large carnivores and the conservation of biodiversity. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Jeffrey, S. (1996). The omnivore. ,
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Nicole, A. (2009). What is herbivores?,
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Randy, R. (2014). Ten physical differences between carnivores (meat eaters) and herbivores (plant eaters).
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Shirlie, S. (2014).Omnivore, Hebivore, Carnivore, What's the Difference?,
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In 1927, Charles Elton took niche theory a step further and included food. He defined the niche of an animal as its place in the biotic environment and its relations to food and enemies (Elton, 1927). Grinnell also wondered if food was a limiting factor to the California Thrasher’s niche, but since the bird is omnivorous, it could find food in other habitats such as a forest floor or a meadow. There had to be other factors that restricted the bird to the chaparral bushes (Grinnel, 1917). Elton believes that the niche of an animal can be defined by its size and its food habits. It is important to study niches because it enables ecologists to see how different animal communities may resemble each other in the essentials of organization (Elton, 1927). For example, in a forest there could be a niche of owls that feeds on small animals such as rats. This same carnivore niche is filled with kestrels in the open grasslands. This carnivore niche is then dependent on the small animals in the herbivore niche (Elton, 1927). Hutchinson also discusses niche theory in his “Concluding Remarks” paper. His theory seems to combine some of the ideas
Niman, Nicolette H. "The Carnivore's Dilemma." Food. Ed. Brooke Rollins and Lee Bauknight. 1st ed. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead, 2010. 169-73. Print.
What is an omnivore? An omnivore is a creature that consumes both plants and animals for nutrition. In Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, he explains just as the title suggests, the omnivore’s dilemma. In it he describes how omnivores, such as ourselves, came to eat the way we do now.
A cannibal is any animal that feeds on its own species (Lady Wild Life’s website). This characteristic is rarely spoken of because it has such a negative connotation. However, an estimate of 140 species from a large time scale, displayed cannibalistic tendencies (Lady Wild Life’s website).
Gardner, Christopher. Notes from the Doc Talks. Stanford University. Web. April 10, 2014. Pollan, Michael. The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals. New York:
If you were to live during the tertiary period, this would be one of the things you would often see. All of the mammals that existed during that time period were terrestrial. They all were land dwelling mammals. Before J. G. M. Thewissen and colleagues’ discovery in Pakistan, many scientists believed, since the constant new discoveries twenty years ago, in what the numerous fossils from North America, Pakistan, and Egypt have revealed, “…these early cetaceans had mobile elbows and external hind limbs with articulated knees. However, they were fully aquatic, except for Ambulocetus, which was amphibious-much like sea lions” (Walking with Whales).
Probably the simplest method of classifying predators is the taxonomic classification system. Carnivores are predators which consume animals. True predators kill their prey straight away after attacking them. During their lifetime they kill many prey. This is an takes in carnivores for example lions, snakes, seagulls and carnivorous plants. Even plankton eating large mammals, seed eating rodents and ants are included in this classification.
There are some people who call themselves a vegetarian, but no one is born to be a vegetarian. They become a vegetarian afterwards with a notion of it. Wild carnivores such as lions and cheetahs hunt and eat other animals only when they are hungry or have to feed the meat to their children. In other words, they know exactly what to eat by instinct. On the other hand, human can eat not only meat but also non-meat. According to Katharine Milton, an anthropologist at the Univ...
Meriam-Webster Dictionary defines food as “material taken into an organism and used for growth, repair, and vital processes as a source of energy” (Mish). Food is simple, yet humans have made it very complex. In the United States of America, food has become more of a hobby than a nutritional need. Every family gathering, holiday, and birthday celebration contains food of some sort. Types of food are customary at different times, like birthday cake at a birthday party, or stuffing at Thanksgiving. There is an entire holiday dedicated to dressing up and giving children candy (Halloween). One of the popular holiday foods is meat. An average of 10 million land animals (not including fish or other water dwelling organisms) are brutally slaughtered
4. What is Animal Rights? Animal Rights is the thought of letting animals get the basic rights. They don’t want animals to be caused pain, or be exploited/killed by humans. It does not mean equality between humans and animals.
"They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin, 1759
Foer, Jonathan Safran. "Eating Animals." Journal of Value Inquiry 45.3 (2011): 359-363. Philosopher's Index. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
In contemporary society, Vegan diets have become prolific, especially among youths and adolescent females. Unlike Vegetarians who do not eat meat (the flesh of animals), Vegans do not consume any food sources of animal origin e.g. milk, butter. Many vegans also refrain from using animal products such as wool and leather. The reasons for these nutritional preferences can include, environmental issues, ethical issues on the treatment of animals, the health benefits of a Vegan diet, and the fear of animal-borne diseases. Jenny Brown, a fair-skinned teenager initiated her Vegan diet two years ago. She does not take any nutrition supplements and is currently 14 years old. Jenny’s vegan diet can reduce her risk of chronic disease later in adulthood as studies show that adult vegans have lower rates of obesity, cancer and cardiovascular disease than omnivorous persons. Although her current diet is abundant in plant-source nutrients such as vitamins E and C, magnesium, fibre, folic acid and unsaturated fat content, it is lacking in other important nutrients that include iron, iodine, Vitamins D and B-12, zinc, calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, protein and energy. Jenny has to regularly consume foods that contain these vital nutrients or else she will increase her own risk of developing certain nutritional deficiencies and various health problems. It is during these periods of growth that Jenny is susceptible to great risks associated with nutrient deficiency in her diet.
What is animal science? Why does animal science even exist? How many areas of study ar in animal science s? Does the average person relate to animal science at any given point in their life? Animals “ are a part of our sustenance, our sociology, and our day-to-day lives.” Animals play a vital role in our lives that we live and why we study everything about them.
Animals can be perceived in many different ways. While some humans consider animals to be mindless machines programmed with instinct, others view them as spiritual creatures capable of coherent thought and emotions. I feel that animals are somewhere in the middle. Although they rely heavily on instinct, the ability to feel emotions shows that their mental capacity is not far from that of a human.