15 ANIMALS THAT EAT GRASS
Many animals in the world eat grass, such as domestic animals like cows, goats, sheep and rabbits and wild animals like pandas, zebras, and pronghorns. The grass contains essential nutrients, especially vitamins A and C. The grass also provides potassium, phosphorous, protein, energy, and calcium minerals.
Animals eating grass often possess robust digestive systems capable of breaking down the tough plant fibers in the grass and extracting all the nutrients to help them stay healthy and fit. Among animals, some species, like cows and sheep, can digest grass better than others. The grass has four stomach chambers that turn cellulose into nutrients the animals can absorb quickly.
1. WHITE RHINOCEROS
Scientific Name: Ceratotherium simum
The white rhino is the largest among all rhino species, can weigh up to 2 tons, and is over four meters long. Such big animals are herbivores predominantly eating short grass, having 74% of their diet consisting of four grass species, including Panicum maximum, Themeda triandra, Urochloa mossambicensis, and P. coloratum.
White rhinos inhabit southern parts of Africa, browsing in open savannahs. Now, the number of white rhinos is approximately 20000 left scattered in the wild due to habitat destruction and poaching.
2.MANATEES
Scientific Name: Trichechus
Manatees are large marine mammals, their closest relatives being elephants. These animals are not uncommon in shallow seawaters in all parts of the world, and their main trait is their peaceful and slow-moving nature. Manatees are herbivores with diets that contain mainly seaweed and other aquatic plants.
Their slow moves and gentle demeanor make them a perfect embodiment of a cow of the sea. It is a standard reference for them. The wild bison, just like cattle, live most of their time out there grazing on the grass.
3. RED KANGAROOS
Scientific Name: Macropus Rufus
The red kangaroo, the largest of all kangaroo species, is the most common in Australia. They exist all over Australia and are usually found in open grasslands, forests and woodlands. The primary food plant that red kangaroos feed on is the fat-leafed saltbush (dry weight), which accounts for 57 percent. At the same time, the other includes grasses like Dicanthium, Enneapggon, and round-leafed saltbush, amounting to 31% and 12%, respectively. These spectacular beings can live for crunchy periods without water by discovering means of keeping water and diminishing their body temperature.
Kangaroos in red can make a significant jump to 9 meters at once. What is remarkable is that the yearning in the female Red Kangaroo is for twins, but only one will reach maturity.
4. PANDAS
Scientific Name: Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Pandas are not only adorable but also cuddly and bamboo gourmets. They take the hearts of animal lovers. They thought a panda was born, but this species is a close relative to the raccoon. These animals in central China almost exclusively eat bamboo and gradually move up and down clouds of trees. Unlike bamboo, which grows up to four feet per day, even though it looks like a tree, it is a grass that develops fast.
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5. Monkeys
Monkeys have a varied diet rather than only bananas. Monkeys are omnivores but mainly eat plants, fruits, and seeds. Among the primates, however, the Geladas primarily feed on grass.
On a domestic level, Herbivores eat grass. The diet of cows, goats, horses, and donkeys consists of daily grass (or hay). Dogs and cats have been known to eat grass as well.
6. GOPHER TORTOISES
Tortoises are hard-shelled reptiles that are found all over the world. Tortoises, such as the gopher tortoise, are herbivores whose diet consists mainly of plants and grass. In the forests, this species likes to live in scrublands where the soil is nice and sandy for them to dig.
Unlike other tortoises that live west of the Mississippi River, gopher tortoises are among the few species residing in the eastern part of the US. They are the staple art of states like Florida, Georgia, and others surrounding them. Gopher tortoises have almost become extinct in South Carolina and Louisiana.
7. CAPYBARAS
Scientific Name: Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
In a paragraph: The capybara is a species of the rodent family Hydrochoeridae. It’s the most giant rodent in the animal kingdom, with an adult’s average weight ranging from 35 to 66 kg (77 and 146 pounds). The capybara is native to Central and South America and is a highly demanded exotic pet.
Capybara is a herbivore, feeding mainly on grasses, water plants and fruits. Capybaras provide primarily on green vegetation and prefer fresh, succulent growth. Nevertheless, even if they’ve dried, they will eat grasses just as they consume trunks or barks.
8. Rhinoceros
Rhinos are among the heaviest land-dwelling mammals, weighing up to 8000 pounds. The grass is most of what they eat, and other vegetation, including plants, fruits, and trees.
White rhinos mainly feed on shorter grass, whereas the others prefer higher grass and sweet fruits.
9. ZEBRAS
Scientific Name: Equus quagga
Zebras can be immediately distinguished by the fact that they possess a black-and-white striped pattern. There are three main species of zebra: the Grevys (the largest of the three zebra species), the Burchells (plains), and the mountain zebras. The typical plains zebras are primarily found in the arid regions of Africa.
10. Wildebeests
Wildebeests are A differaammal with a 90% lwildebeestnown for their migration throughout the year.
They survive in great companies with as many individuals as thousands of grasses—lots of grass. Therefore, feeding the animals is challenging for cattle owners, especially when vying for grazing land. Wildebeest binges are primarily on short, scarcely-spaced grass and succulents.
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11. LLAMAS
Scientific Name: Lama Glama
We llamas of South America can be categorized among the camelids, just like our camel relatives, and we have all developed the ability to thrive in the harsh conditions of the arid life. Llamas typically live in the Andean Mountains, eating from a mix of grass varieties and bee-friendly crops such as clover, alfalfa and dandelions. Other than alpacas, some camels are found among plants like bushes and cactuses.
12. PRONGHORNS
Scientific Name: Antilocapra americana
Pronghorns are the prairie-living antelope of North America. Unlike other antelopes, these animals, Christened the “Pronghorn,” are not only the sole members of the Antilocapridae but also inhabited the Americas. Pronghorns can run fast even if they are not runners by nature& they can run up to 40mph.
These fast animals mostly eat grasses and bushes; however, they feed on leaves, buds, flowers, or fruits once they get a chance. Because of the plenty of food, it can always have something to eat through the different periods. As genets are concerned, the pronghorns like forbs in the spring and summer, but they feed on shrubs in the late summer and autumn.
13. Camels
The well-known gigantic hill may need to be more appealing, and the animal prefers to feed on grass. It can guzzle more than 200 liters of water within three minutes. However, the leafy and moist grass of the coulee is their primary subsistence.
Popularly described as “gentle giants,” they are mainly herbivorous. Still, they can show omnivorous behavior if conditions are unfavorable. They will do a terrific job of taking care of their population. They will check for plants such as shrubs, twigs, leaves, or other things they encounter.
14. Bison
Just like cows, bison have a 4-chambered stomach due to the nature of their plant diet, which needs to be broken down into simpler components.
Bison are grazers that spend most of their time on the ground feasting on prairie grasses. However, they can also eat trees, shrubs, seeds, and tree bark in the winter.
15. Hippopotamus
By far one of the most enormous mouths of all land mammals, this fact may make some think that a hippo is a carnivore.
They can consume up to 80 pounds of grass daily, favoring feeding at night. They could travel a distance to finish the food in the required volume.