omnivore – an animal that eats both plants and other animals

(Pronounced om-nih-vor)

To remember the meaning of omnivore, use the following mnemonic:

Omm, omm, omm (omnivore) was the noise coming from the huge mouth as it ate its way through everything.

Another way to remember what the meaning of omnivore is, recall that the prefix omni means all in latin, so therefore an omnivore means eats all types of food.

An omnivore is an organism that eats both plants and animals as part of its regular diet. Examples of omnivores include humans, pigs, bears, and many bird species. They typically have teeth suited for both cutting meat and grinding plant material, such as sharp canines for tearing flesh and flat molars for crushing plant matter.

In food chains and webs, omnivores can occupy multiple levels since they can act as both primary consumer (when eating plants) and secondary and tertiary consumers (when eating other animals). This dietary flexibility often gives omnivores an advantage in surviving different environments and when food sources are scarce, as they can switch between plant and animal food depending on availability.