25 Examples of Omnivores with Diverse and Fascinating Adaptations

Omnivores are animals that consume both plant and animal matter as part of their diet. Examples of omnivores include de Brazza’s monkey, ostrich, red-rumped agouti, groundhog, brown rat, and grizzly bear.

Curious to learn more about these fascinating creatures and their unique characteristics? Read on to explore in-depth information about each of these omnivores, including their appearance, diet, and habitats.

Omnivore | What is it?

An omnivore is an organism that eats a variety of food, including plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria. Omnivores can be found across various animal groups, from mammals and birds to reptiles and insects. Their diverse diet allows them to adapt to different environments and food sources, making them versatile and resilient.

De Brazza’s Monkey

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Cercopithecus neglectus
Appearance	Old World monkey with a distinctive beard and brow ridges
Color	Greyish-brown with orange-tinted fur on the back and limbs
Neck Length	Medium
Lifespan	22 years in captivity
Height	16-25 inches
Weight	8.8-17.6 pounds
Diet	Primarily fruits, leaves, insects, and seeds
Place Of Origin	Central Africa
Characteristics	Arboreal, diurnal, social, territorial

Ostrich

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Struthio camelus
Appearance	Large, flightless bird with long legs and a small head
Color	Males have black feathers; females have greyish-brown feathers
Neck Length	Long
Lifespan	30-40 years
Height	7-9 feet
Weight	140-320 pounds
Diet	Leaves, seeds, fruits, insects, and small vertebrates
Place Of Origin	Africa
Characteristics	Fast runners, strong legs, communal living

Red-Rumped Agouti

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Dasyprocta leporina
Appearance	Rodent with a stocky body and short legs
Color	Brownish-red fur with a reddish rump
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	15-20 years in captivity
Height	7-10 inches
Weight	4-8 pounds
Diet	Fruits, seeds, nuts, leaves, and insects
Place Of Origin	Central and South America
Characteristics	Diurnal, terrestrial, good climbers

Groundhog

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Marmota monax
Appearance	Stocky, furry rodent with short legs
Color	Brown
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	2-6 years in the wild
Height	6-12 inches
Weight	4-14 pounds
Diet	Leaves, flowers, fruits, insects, and small mammals
Place Of Origin	North America
Characteristics	Diurnal, burrowing, hibernating

Brown Rat

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Rattus norvegicus
Appearance	Small, slender rodent with a long tail
Color	Brown
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	1-3 years
Height	4-9 inches
Weight	7-18 ounces
Diet	Fruits, vegetables, grains, insects, and small animals
Place Of Origin	China, now widespread worldwide
Characteristics	Nocturnal, social, adaptable

Grizzly Bear

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Ursus arctos horribilis
Appearance	Large, muscular bear with a distinctive hump on its shoulders
Color	Brown with grizzled, silver-tipped fur
Neck Length	Medium
Lifespan	20-30 years
Height	3.3-5 feet at the shoulder
Weight	400-1,500 pounds
Diet	Berries, nuts, fish, mammals, and carrion
Place Of Origin	North America
Characteristics	Solitary, territorial, hibernating

White-Footed Mouse

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Peromyscus leucopus
Appearance	Small rodent with large ears and a long tail
Color	Brownish-grey with white underparts and feet
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	1-2 years in the wild
Height	3-4 inches
Weight	0.7-1.4 ounces
Diet	Seeds, nuts, fruits, insects, and fungi
Place Of Origin	North America
Characteristics	Nocturnal, arboreal, good climbers

Fennec Fox

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Vulpes zerda
Appearance	Small fox with large ears and a bushy tail
Color	Sandy, reddish-brown with white underparts
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	10-14 years
Height	8-16 inches
Weight	1.5-3.5 pounds
Diet	Insects, rodents, birds, fruits, and vegetation
Place Of Origin	North Africa and the Sahara Desert
Characteristics	Nocturnal, social, excellent diggers

American Hog-Nosed Skunk

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Conepatus leuconotus
Appearance	Medium-sized skunk with a hog-like snout
Color	Black and white with a distinctive white stripe
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	2-4 years in the wild
Height	6-12 inches
Weight	4-10 pounds
Diet	Insects, small mammals, reptiles, fruits, and vegetation
Place Of Origin	North and Central America
Characteristics	Nocturnal, solitary, strong sense of smell

Sugar Glider

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Petaurus breviceps
Appearance	Small marsupial with a membrane for gliding
Color	Grey with a black stripe and white underparts
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	10-12 years in captivity
Height	5-6 inches
Weight	3-5 ounces
Diet	Nectar, fruits, insects, and tree sap
Place Of Origin	Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia
Characteristics	Nocturnal, social, arboreal

Opossum

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Didelphis virginiana
Appearance	Medium-sized marsupial with a prehensile tail
Color	Greyish-white
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	2-4 years in the wild
Height	9-15 inches
Weight	4-14 pounds
Diet	Insects, small mammals, fruits, and carrion
Place Of Origin	North America
Characteristics	Nocturnal, solitary, immune to some venomous snake bites

Chipmunk

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Tamias
Appearance	Small rodent with stripes and a bushy tail
Color	Brown with black and white stripes
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	2-5 years in the wild
Height	3-6 inches
Weight	1-5 ounces
Diet	Seeds, nuts, fruits, insects, and small mammals
Place Of Origin	North America and Asia
Characteristics	Diurnal, arboreal, good climbers, hoarders

Spider Monkey

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Ateles
Appearance	Medium-sized monkey with long limbs and a prehensile tail
Color	Varies depending on species, usually black, brown, or reddish-brown
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	15-25 years
Height	12-24 inches
Weight	13-24 pounds
Diet	Fruits, leaves, insects, and small vertebrates
Place Of Origin	Central and South America
Characteristics	Diurnal, social, arboreal

Tapanuli Orangutans

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Pongo tapanuliensis
Appearance	Large ape with long arms and thick fur
Color	Dark brown or reddish-brown
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	30-40 years in the wild
Height	4-5 feet
Weight	90-200 pounds
Diet	Fruits, leaves, insects, and tree bark
Place Of Origin	Sumatra, Indonesia
Characteristics	Arboreal, solitary, highly intelligent

White-Fronted Capuchin Monkey

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Cebus albifrons
Appearance	Medium-sized monkey with a tuft of hair on its forehead
Color	Brown or black with a white forehead
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	15-20 years in the wild
Height	16-22 inches
Weight	4-9 pounds
Diet	Fruits, nuts, insects, and small vertebrates
Place Of Origin	South America
Characteristics	Diurnal, social, arboreal, intelligent

Western Gorilla

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Gorilla gorilla
Appearance	Large ape with a muscular build and a prominent brow ridge
Color	Black or dark brown
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	35-40 years in the wild
Height	4-6 feet
Weight	150-400 pounds
Diet	Leaves, stems, fruits, and insects
Place Of Origin	Western and Central Africa
Characteristics	Social, terrestrial, highly intelligent

Olive Baboon

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Papio anubis
Appearance	Medium-sized monkey with a dog-like muzzle and a long tail
Color	Olive or yellowish-brown
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	20-30 years in the wild
Height	20-34 inches
Weight	22-82 pounds
Diet	Fruits, leaves, seeds, insects, and small mammals
Place Of Origin	Sub-Saharan Africa
Characteristics	Diurnal, social, terrestrial

Common Snapping Turtle

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Chelydra serpentina
Appearance	Large turtle with a powerful beak and a saw-toothed tail
Color	Brown, black, or olive green
Neck Length	Long
Lifespan	30-40 years in the wild
Height	10-18 inches
Weight	10-75 pounds
Diet	Fish, amphibians, insects, and aquatic plants
Place Of Origin	North America
Characteristics	Aquatic, aggressive when threatened, excellent swimmers

Warthog

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Phacochoerus africanus
Appearance	Large pig-like animal with tusks and a mane
Color	Gray or brown
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	12-18 years in the wild
Height	25-33 inches
Weight	120-250 pounds
Diet	Grasses, roots, and tubers
Place Of Origin	Africa
Characteristics	Social, diurnal, fast runners

Wild Boar

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Sus scrofa
Appearance	Large pig-like animal with coarse fur and curved tusks
Color	Brown, black, or gray
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	10-14 years in the wild
Height	35-47 inches
Weight	100-400 pounds
Diet	Roots, tubers, fruits, and small animals
Place Of Origin	Europe, Asia, and North Africa
Characteristics	Social, nocturnal, intelligent

Pig

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Sus domesticus
Appearance	Domestic pig with a stout body and a short snout
Color	Pink, black, or brown
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	8-12 years
Height	14-18 inches
Weight	100-600 pounds
Diet	Grains, vegetables, and fruits
Place Of Origin	Worldwide
Characteristics	Social, intelligent, adaptable

Bearded Dragons

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Pogona
Appearance	Medium-sized lizard with spiny scales and a “beard”
Color	Brown, tan, or gray
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	8-12 years in captivity
Height	16-24 inches
Weight	10-20 ounces
Diet	Insects, vegetables, and fruits
Place Of Origin	Australia
Characteristics	Diurnal, terrestrial, docile

Raccoon

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Procyon lotor
Appearance	Medium-sized mammal with a bushy tail and a mask-like facial marking
Color	Gray and black
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	2-5 years in the wild
Height	9-12 inches
Weight	14-40 pounds
Diet	Fruits, insects, eggs, and small animals
Place Of Origin	North America
Characteristics	Nocturnal, intelligent, adaptable

Related: What Are the Different Types of Raccoons? | Information and Facts

American Black Bear

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Ursus americanus
Appearance	Large bear with a short tail and rounded ears
Color	Black, brown, or cinnamon
Neck Length	Short
Lifespan	20-30 years in the wild
Height	2-3 feet at shoulder
Weight	200-600 pounds
Diet	Berries, nuts, insects, fish, and small mammals
Place Of Origin	North America
Characteristics	Solitary, opportunistic, adaptable

Black-Backed Jackal

Attribute	Description
Scientific Name	Canis mesomelas
Appearance	Medium-sized canine with a bushy tail and a black saddle marking
Color	Tan or reddish-brown with a black back
Neck Length	Moderate
Lifespan	6-8 years in the wild
Height	15-20 inches
Weight	15-30 pounds
Diet	Small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and fruits
Place Of Origin	Africa
Characteristics	Monogamous, territorial, adaptable

List of Sources

Fennec fox. Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.

Kerwin, K., Maslo, B. (2020). Ecology and Management of the Groundhog (Marmota monax). Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

How Fast is an Ostrich? And More Fun Facts. (2022). Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.