Feeding behavior refers to the various strategies by which different animals locate, acquire, and process their food. Since animals have always relied on many food sources, their feeding behaviors have shaped their form and function. For example, it has driven the evolution of specialized feeding structures, such as teeth, beaks, and claws, as well as shaped their internal physiology, especially modifications in the digestive system.
Types of Feeding Behaviors
Since animals obtain nutrition in diverse ways, their feeding behaviors are often classified by mode of ingestion, mode of digestion, and dietary specialization (food type). The list below summarizes key feeding behaviors within each of these categories.
By mode of ingestion
- Filter feeding
- Deposit feeding
- Fluid feeding
- Bulk feeding
- Ram feeding
- Suction feeding
By mode of digestion
- Extracellular digestion
- Myzocytosis
- Phagocytosis
By food type
- Polyphagy
- Monophagy
- Oligophagy
- Carnivore
- Araneophagy
- Avivore
- Corallivore
- Durophagy
- Egg predator (Ovivore)
- Haematophage / Sanguivore
- Insectivore
- Myrmecophage
- Invertivore
- Keratophagy / Ceratophagy
- Lepidophagy
- Molluscivore
- Mucophagy
- Ophiophagy
- Piscivore
- Anurophagy
- Spongivore
- Teuthophagore
- Vermivore
- Zooplanktonivore
- Herbivore
- Exudativore
- Gummivore
- Folivore
- Florivore
- Frugivore
- Graminivore
- Granivore
- Nectarivore
- Palynivore
- Xylophage
- Algivore
- Omnivore
- Hypercarnivore
- Mesocarnivore
- Hypocarnivore
- Fungivore
- Bacterivore
- Coprophage
- Detritivore
- Geophagia
- Necrophage
- Osteophage
- Saprophage
- Scavenger
Unusual feeding behaviours
- Cannibalism
- Anthropophagy
- Autocannibalism
- Filial cannibalism
- Intrauterine cannibalism
- Oophagy (Ovophagy)
- Embryophagy
- Sexual cannibalism
- Kleptoparasitism
- Kleptopharmacophagy
- Lignophagia
- Paedophagy
- Pica
- Placentophagy
- Trophallaxis
- Zoopharmacognosy
The differences in feeding modes shape predator–prey interactions, competition, habitat use, and energy flow through ecosystems.
