Table of Contents
Herbivorous Animals: Herbivorous animals are plant-eating creatures that play an essential role in maintaining balance in our ecosystem. These animals feed only on plants, including leaves, fruits, seeds, and roots. In the study of animal eating habits, they are grouped alongside carnivores (meat-eaters) and omnivores (those that eat both plants and animals).
From the gentle cow grazing in fields to the deer wandering in forests, herbivorous animals’ names are commonly heard in our daily lives. This article will explore what herbivores are, their features, and some well-known examples to help students understand their importance in nature.
What Do Herbivorous Animals Eat?
Herbivorous animals are animals that eat only plant-based food. Their diet includes grass, leaves, fruits, vegetables, flowers, seeds, roots, and sometimes tree bark. They have specially adapted teeth and digestive systems to break down tough plant materials. Unlike carnivores, they do not eat meat. Common herbivores like cows, deer, elephants, and rabbits survive by grazing or browsing for plants in their natural habitat.
Also Check: Domestic Animals Name
Top 25+ Herbivores Animals Names List
| S.No. | Herbivorous Animal Name | Common Habitat | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cow | Farms, Grasslands | Domestic |
| 2 | Goat | Farms, Hills | Domestic |
| 3 | Sheep | Fields, Mountains | Domestic |
| 4 | Horse | Farms, Plains | Domestic/Wild |
| 5 | Elephant | Forests, Grasslands | Wild |
| 6 | Giraffe | Savannas, Woodlands | Wild |
| 7 | Deer | Forests, Meadows | Wild |
| 8 | Zebra | Savannah, Grasslands | Wild |
| 9 | Donkey | Farms, Rural Areas | Domestic |
| 10 | Camel | Deserts | Domestic/Wild |
| 11 | Rabbit | Meadows, Gardens | Domestic/Wild |
| 12 | Koala | Eucalyptus Forests | Wild (Australia) |
| 13 | Panda | Bamboo Forests | Wild (Asia) |
| 14 | Rhinoceros | Grasslands, Swamps | Wild |
| 15 | Buffalo | Grasslands, Marshy Areas | Domestic/Wild |
| 16 | Yak | Mountains (Himalayas) | Domestic/Wild |
| 17 | Guinea Pig | Grasslands, Homes | Domestic |
| 18 | Parrot | Tropical Forests | Domestic/Wild (Bird) |
| 19 | Tortoise | Deserts, Forests | Wild |
| 20 | Manatee | Rivers, Coastal Waters | Aquatic |
| 21 | Sloth | Rainforests | Wild |
| 22 | Antelope | Savannah, Plains | Wild |
| 23 | Kangaroo | Grasslands (Australia) | Wild |
| 24 | Moose | Forests, Swamps (North) | Wild |
Also Check: Wild Animals Name
10 Plant Eating Animals Name with Descriptions | Herbivorous Animals List
| S.No. | Animal Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cow | A domestic herbivore that grazes on grass, hay, and grains. Known for milk production. |
| 2 | Elephant | A large land mammal that feeds on leaves, bark, fruits, and grass. Lives in forests and savannas. |
| 3 | Deer | A wild animal found in forests and fields, feeds on plants, grass, and shrubs. |
| 4 | Goat | A domestic animal that eats leaves, grass, shrubs, and sometimes crops. |
| 5 | Horse | A strong domestic animal that feeds on hay, oats, and grass. Used for riding and farming. |
| 6 | Giraffe | The tallest land animal, it feeds mostly on tree leaves, especially from acacia trees. |
| 7 | Rabbit | A small mammal that eats vegetables, leafy greens, and plant stems. |
| 8 | Panda | A bear-like animal mainly feeding on bamboo; found in mountain forests in China. |
| 9 | Zebra | A striped wild animal that lives in grasslands and feeds on grass and herbs. |
| 10 | Camel | A desert-dwelling herbivore that eats dry grasses, shrubs, and thorny plants. |
Also Check: Flying Animals Name | Water Animals Name
10 Herbivorous Animals Names with Class, Characteristics & Habitat
| S.No. | Animal Name | Class / Family | Key Characteristics | Habitat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Okapi | Mammalia / Giraffidae | Striped legs like a zebra, long tongue, leaf-eater | Dense rainforests of Central Africa |
| 2 | Capybara | Mammalia / Caviidae | World’s largest rodent, webbed feet, grazes on aquatic plants | Near rivers and wetlands (South America) |
| 3 | Tapir | Mammalia / Tapiridae | Trunk-like snout, nocturnal, eats leaves and fruit | Rainforests of South and Central America, Asia |
| 4 | Manatee | Mammalia / Trichechidae | Aquatic, slow-moving, feeds on sea grass and plants | Coastal waters and rivers (Florida, Amazon) |
| 5 | Indian Star Tortoise | Reptilia / Testudinidae | Hard star-patterned shell, slow, eats plants and flowers | Dry regions and scrub forests (India, Sri Lanka) |
| 6 | Alpaca | Mammalia / Camelidae | Domesticated, soft wool, feeds on grass and hay | Andes Mountains (South America) |
| 7 | Patagonian Mara | Mammalia / Caviidae | Looks like a cross between a rabbit and deer, herbivore rodent | Open plains of Argentina |
| 8 | Saola | Mammalia / Bovidae | Known as “Asian Unicorn”, shy, leaf and shrub eater | Annamite Mountains (Vietnam, Laos) |
| 9 | Takin | Mammalia / Bovidae | Goat-antelope, sturdy build, feeds on shrubs and grass | Eastern Himalayas |
| 10 | Rock Hyrax | Mammalia / Procaviidae | Small, rabbit-like, complex digestive system for plant material | Rocky terrains and cliffs (Africa, Middle East) |
Also Check: Omnivore Animals
A to Z Herbivorous Animals List | Plant-Eating Animals from A to Z
| Letter | Animal Names |
|---|---|
| A | Antelope, Alpaca, Aoudad |
| B | Bison, Beaver, Bontebok |
| C | Capybara, Camel, Cow |
| D | Deer, Dik-dik, Donkey |
| E | Elephant, Elk, Eland |
| F | Flying Squirrel, Fallow Deer |
| G | Giraffe, Goat, Gorilla |
| H | Hippopotamus, Hare, Horse |
| I | Iguana, Indian Star Tortoise |
| J | Jerboa, Japanese Serow |
| K | Koala, Kangaroo |
| L | Llama, Leaf Monkey |
| M | Manatee, Moose |
| N | Nilgai, Nubian Ibex |
| O | Okapi, Orangutan |
| P | Panda, Porcupine, Proboscis Monkey |
| Q | Quokka, Quail (some species eat plants) |
| R | Rhinoceros, Rabbit, Red Deer |
| S | Sloth, Sheep, Sambar Deer |
| T | Tapir, Tortoise (many species), Tree Kangaroo |
| U | Uakari (some species eat plants), Urial Sheep |
| V | Vicuña, Vegetarian Finch (Galápagos) |
| W | Wombat, Wildebeest |
| X | Xerus (African ground squirrel) |
| Y | Yak, Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby |
| Z | Zebra, Zebu |
Herbivorous Animals Names FAQs
What are 20 herbivores?
Here are 20 herbivorous animals that feed mainly on plants: Cow Goat Deer Horse Elephant Giraffe Zebra Rabbit Donkey Camel Yak Buffalo Kangaroo Panda Manatee Guinea Pig Tortoise Sloth Antelope Llama
Which animal is herbivorous?
An animal is herbivorous if it survives by eating only plant-based food like grass, leaves, fruits, or stems. For example, a cow is a herbivore because it feeds only on grass and fodder and does not eat meat.
What do herbivorous animals eat?
Herbivorous animals eat plants. Their diet includes grass, leaves, fruits, flowers, vegetables, seeds, and sometimes tree bark or roots. Their bodies are adapted to digest plant material efficiently.
What else do herbivores eat?
Besides grass and leaves, herbivores may also eat shrubs, aquatic plants, fruits, grains, legumes, and tree bark, depending on their species and habitat. Some also consume crop plants, especially domestic ones like goats and cows.
Why are herbivores called key industry animals?
Herbivores are called key industry animals because they support agriculture, dairy, and farming industries. Animals like cows, goats, and buffaloes provide milk, meat, leather, and labor. Their plant-based diet makes them cost-effective to maintain, and they help in ploughing, transportation, and producing manure, which enriches the soil.
Name some domesticated animals that are herbivores.
Here are some domesticated herbivorous animals commonly found around farms and homes: Cow Goat Sheep Horse Donkey Buffalo Rabbit Camel Llama Yak
