Explore the Outdoors!

Category: Animals

Here, I write about animals and their small curiosities, feeding habits, and their role in the ecosystem!

  • What Eats Crayfish? (20+ Crayfish Predators!)

    What Eats Crayfish? (20+ Crayfish Predators!)

    Crayfish (crawfish or crawdads) are small, freshwater crustaceans that are related to lobsters and crabs. They are a popular food source in many parts of the world, and they are also kept as pets. Crayfish have many predators, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Some of the most common land predators of crayfish include…

  • What Fish Will Eat Crayfish? (Top 10 Listed!)

    What Fish Will Eat Crayfish? (Top 10 Listed!)

    Crayfish (also sometimes called crawfish and crawdads) are freshwater crustaceans that live in lakes, ponds and rivers all over the world. Crayfish have many enemies and the most abundant predators of crayfish are larger freshwater fish! Many different fish feed on crayfish and/or their spawn in natural freshwater environments. Studies on the stomach contents of…

  • Are Millipedes Decomposers?

    Are Millipedes Decomposers?

    Millipedes are omnivores that consume both plants and animals. In the wild, they play an important role in the food web as detritivores, breaking down dead plant and animal matter into smaller pieces that can be used by other organisms. While millipedes are not true decomposers, they do play a key role in the decomposition…

  • Are Birds Producers, Consumers or Decomposers? (Answered!)

    Are Birds Producers, Consumers or Decomposers? (Answered!)

    Producers are organisms that get their energy from their environment, for example, from the sun or from breaking down chemical compounds. Decomposers are a type of consumer that break down organic matter into simple chemical nutrients essential for producers. Even though different bird species have different diets, they are all consumers. In ecology, consumers are…

  • 10 Scavenger Fish And What They Eat!

    10 Scavenger Fish And What They Eat!

    Fish come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and most are either carnivores or herbivores but few feed entirely as scavengers! In the wild fish mainly eat algae, worms, plankton, and each other (!) but some species of fish are opportunistic feeders that will eat anything they can get hold off. Most fish are…

  • Are Oysters Herbivores or Omnivores?

    Are Oysters Herbivores or Omnivores?

    Oysters are filter-feeding herbivores that live in marine habitats. They play an important role in the ecosystem by filtering large amounts of water and removing algae, plankton, and debris. As a result, oysters help to keep the water clean and improve water quality. Oysters are classified as herbivores because they primarily eat plant material that…

  • Do Lobster Claws Grow Back? (How Fast?)

    Do Lobster Claws Grow Back? (How Fast?)

    If you don’t know what a lobster is already, they are large crayfish-like creatures that live exclusively in saltwater. A lobster’s defining feature is its large front claws and its dark red color. They are ancient creatures with many interesting abilities, some of which I will look into in this post! Perhaps the most interesting…

  • Is a sea slug a decomposer?

    Is a sea slug a decomposer?

    Sea slugs are a type of mollusc that live in the ocean. Like all gastropod molluscs, they have a soft body that, contrary to snails, is not protected by a hard shell. Sea slugs have lost their shell during the course of evolution and instead rely on other methods of defence – such as venom!…

  • Is a Magpie a Carnivore or a Herbivore? (Answered!)

    Is a Magpie a Carnivore or a Herbivore? (Answered!)

    Magpies are omnivorous birds that are native to Europe, Asia and North Africa. They are easily recognizable by their black and white plumage, and their long tail. Magpies eat a wide variety of food items, including seeds, nuts, worms, small animals and carrion. If available, they actually prefer to eat animals due to their higher…

  • Are Barnacles Decomposers? (What do they eat?)

    Are Barnacles Decomposers? (What do they eat?)

    Barnacles are filter feeders that live on the bottom of the sea. In the wild, barnacles form an important part of the food web since they eat a wide variety of food items and provide a nutritious meal to many other animals in the sea. Barnacles are not primarily decomposers but can function as scavengers…