Vermivore

Pacific brown salamander eating a worm

Vermivore (from Latin vermi, meaning "worm" and vorare, "to devour") in zoology describes animals that eat worms (including annelids, nematodes, and other worm-like animals).^[1] Animals with such a diet are known as vermivorous.^[2] Some definitions are less exclusive with respect to the diet, but limit the definition to particular animals, e.g. "Feeding on worms or insect vermin. Used of a bird."^[3]

An entire genus of New World warblers has been given the name Vermivora.

One vermivore that may feed exclusively on worms is Paucidentomys vermidax, a rodent species of a type commonly known as shrew rats which was discovered in 2011 in Indonesia. The name, which can be translated as "worm-eating, few-toothed mouse", refers to the fact that they have only two teeth and may live exclusively on a diet of earthworms.^[4]

Examples

• Shrews
• Tuataras
• Hedgehogs
• Kiwi
• Long-beaked echidna^[5]
• Platypus
• Leeches of the genus Americobdella
• Moles^[6]
• American robins
• Wormsnakes
• Some sea snails e.g. Jaspidiconus and Conus species.

See also

• Carnivore
• Frugivore
• Herbivore
• Insectivore
• List of feeding behaviours
• Nectarivore
• Omnivore

References

1. "Animal Diversity Web". Retrieved 30 August 2012.
2. "Vermivorous". The Complete Dictionary of Arts and Sciences 3. 1766.
3. "The Free Dictionary". Retrieved 30 August 2012.
4. Esselstyn, J.A., Achmadi, A.S. Rowe, K.C. (2012). Evolutionary novelty in a rat with no molars. Biology Letters, published online 22 August 2012, doi:10.1098/rsbl.2012.0574
5. (subscription required) "Spiny Anteaters: Licking Up Its Food" Check value (help). International Wildlife Encyclopedia 18. Marshall Cavendish. 2002. p. 2488.
6. Chapman, James (March 4, 2003). (subscription required) "Moles on the March; Mild Winters and Poison Shortage Put Lawns at Risk" Check |url= value (help). Daily Mail. p. 17.