Molluscivore

A molluscivore is a carnivorous animal which eats mainly molluscs. The term durophagy is used to describe this eating behavior.

Several species of pufferfish and loaches fit this category. As many molluscs are protected by a shell, the feeding techniques applied amongst molluscivore fish are highly specialized and usually divided into two groups; "crushers" and "slurpers." Pufferfish tend to be crushers and will use their beak-like teeth to break the shell in order to gain access to the meat inside. Loaches are specialized slurpers, and will make use of their characteristically shaped snout in order to grab hold of the animal living inside the shell.

Among birds, the eponymous shorebirds known as oystercatchers are renowned for feeding upon bivalves. At least one bird of prey is also primarily a molluscivore - the Snail Kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis. The Limpkin is a small rail-like bird that feeds almost entirely on apple snails.

This ethology article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Carnivory Molluscs Biology terminology Ethology stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую Ohio State Route 83 Fox 13 Look at other dictionaries: Molluscivore — Un molluscivore (ou malacophage) est un animal carnivore qui se nourrit surtout de mollusques. On utilise le terme de durophagie pour décrire ce comportement alimentaire. Carinotetraodon travancoricus est un poisson molluscivore Plusieurs espèces …   Wikipédia en Français molluscivore — eating molluscs, snails, clams, etc …   Dictionary of ichthyology molluscivore — noun a creature that eats mollusks …   Wiktionary Malacophage — Molluscivore Un molluscivore (ou malacophage) est un animal carnivore qui se nourrit surtout de mollusques. On utilise le terme de durophagie pour décrire ce comportement alimentaire. Carinotetraodon travancoricus est un poisson molluscivore… …   Wikipédia en Français List of feeding behaviours — Feeding is the process by which organisms, typically animals, obtain food. Terminology often uses either the suffix vore from Latin vorare, meaning to devour , or phagy, from Greek φαγειν, meaning to eat . Mosquito drinking blood …   Wikipedia Cannibalism — For non human cannibalism, see Cannibalism (zoology). For other uses, see Cannibal (disambiguation). Cannibalism, Brazil. Engraving by Theodor de Bry for Hans Staden s account of his 1557 captivity …   Wikipedia Carnivore — Carnivorism redirects here. For the diet, see No carbohydrate diet. For other uses, see Carnivore (disambiguation). Lions are voracious carnivores; they require up to seven kilograms (15 lbs) of meat per day. A major component of their diet is… …   Wikipedia Coprophagia — A female Oriental Latrine Fly (Chrysomya megacephala) feeds on animal feces. Coprophagia or coprophagy is the consumption of feces, from the Greek κόπρος copros ( feces ) and φαγεῖν phagein ( to eat ). Many animal species practice coprophagia as… …   Wikipedia Geophagy — The red and green macaw eats clay from exposed riverbanks, allowing it to utilize nutrients in harmful foods. Geophagy is the practice of eating earthy or soil like substances such as clay, and chalk. It exists in animals in the wild and also in… …   Wikipedia Predation — For alternative meanings of predator and prey, see Predator (disambiguation) and Prey (disambiguation). Predating can also mean dating earlier than : see wiktionary:predate. Indian Python swallowing a small Chital deer at Mudumalai National Park …   Wikipedia 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”