What kind of animals are prey

Within the food chain, prey animals are linked between the primary producers autotroph organisms and the secondary or tertiary consumers. These prey animals are often herbivorous. Prey animals do have a series of characteristics which define them. Next, we detail the characteristics of the animals that are prey:.

On the other hand, when it comes to predator animal facts , these animals are often carnivorous or omnivorous animals. They may have claws, sharp teeth, strong jaws, venom or other features which allow them to capture their prey.

In addition, predator animals usually occupy the last links of the food chain. For more, you may be interested in taking a look at our article where we discuss symbiosis definitions and examples. This means that some predators can feed on many different prey and others feed on only one or two species. In many cases, some of the species that are part of these "predator-prey" relationships have maintained this relationship for a long evolutionary period. Examples of the predatory-prey animals include:.

The majority of predatory animals, however, are generalist species. This means that they are able to feed on several different species:. Smaller predators, such as mice and lizards can be, and often are, prey for larger predators. The young of larger predators will also become prey. Herbivores, such as rabbits and mule deer , have only defensive adaptations and do not hunt other animals for food or to eliminate them as competition. Digital-Desert : Mojave Desert.

Desert Wildlife Prey Animals The term prey refers to an animal that is sought, captured, and eaten by a predator. Without these animals being consumed, predators would starve or have to compete for plant food. Deep sea animals have the same structures. Most predators have a very good sense of hearing. In mammals, external ear flaps can be swiveled forward or backward in order to pinpoint the direction of a sound.

The ears of bats are often highly specialized, with strange shapes that help catch the echoes of the calls they make as they fly.

Birds can hear very well, too. Owls are thought to have the most outstanding hearing of any animal. Their ears are offset, which means one is higher than the other.

Some animals don't need ears to hear. Instead, they rely on vibrations they feel in their bodies. This is another way of pinpointing the source of sounds. Ground vibrations from moving prey animals are transmitted through the bones of salamanders and snakes to the nerves near their ears. Sharks can monitor vibrations in the water with a lateral-line system.

Fluid-filled canals lie just beneath the shark's skin along the sides of its head and body. The canals are filled with small pores open to the water. Underwater noises or motion cause a vibration that strikes these open pores. A shark tunes into the vibration and looks for its next meal.

Some predators can smell a meal from a mile away! Foxes are even able to smell food which is buried under two feet of soil. Some use their sense of smell to follow the footsteps or tracks of an animal. A shark has outstanding smelling ability, but it works a bit differently. Their nostrils are not for breathing, but are used for sensing odor.

Water flows in and out of the nostrils. A shark is able to identify the different smells found in the water from 2 miles away! Snakes use their tongues to smell. You might see a snake flicking its tongue around. The snake is not getting ready to bite, it is smelling the air by picking up dust particles. These particles are carried to taste detectors in the snake's mouth. The taste tells snakes what animals are near. Predators have different weapons that are used to kill and eat prey.

Three of a predator's main weapons are sharp teeth, claws and jaws. Most animals have three kinds of teeth. In the front, you'll find incisors. These are used to cut food. On the sides, you'll see longer teeth, called canines , which are used for tearing chunks of flesh off of the prey. Canine teeth can also be used to kill the prey by piercing the neck or throat. Molars are found towards the back of the mouth. They are flat and strong and used to chew or grind.

Some animals, such as crocodiles and sharks, have long, cone shaped teeth. These are used for grasping the prey and pulling it underwater. When underwater, the prey will drown enabling the predator to eat it. Jaws, as well as teeth are important adaptations to seize and subdue their prey. Powerful muscles provide leverage and gripping power at the front part of the jaws. Some snakes are able to unhinge their jaws. This allows them to swallow a meal which is much larger than the snake's own head!

In some cases, beaks take the place of teeth. Each beak tells a story about its owner. Long beaks are used for probing, hooked beaks are for tearing, thick ones are for crunching seeds, thin ones are for picking insects. Beaks provide birds with a lightweight alternative to a mouthful of teeth. Like hollow bones, they are an adaptation for flying. Sharp claws are also powerful weapons. Birds of prey have powerful claws, called talons , which help the raptor to grab its prey. Most big cats have claws that they use to grip and tear.

They are able to pull in these claws when walking or running. This keeps them sharp. Moles and hedgehogs use their claws to dig up insects. In the same manner, grizzly bears dig up roots and burrowing rodents. Some predators use their tongues as effective weapons. A chameleon has one of the fastest tongues. It shoots its sticky tongue, which is coated with a glue-like substance, out towards the prey to capture it for swallowing.

Did you know anteaters have tongues as long as a person's arm? This adaptation helps an anteater to reach areas where he or she needs to reach.

Another hunting weapon is poison. Snakes use their poison, which comes from their fangs, to paralyze or kill their prey. A spider releases strong digestive enzymes that turn their prey's insides to liquid. A straw-like mouth enables the spider to suck up the liquid. Wasps and scorpions paralyze their prey by using powerful stingers. A jellyfish uses its deadly tentacles to inject venom into its prey. Camouflage is an adaptation that is used both by predators and by prey. Nature provides many ways for animals to make themselves hard to see.

Both predators and prey use camouflage. Prey use it to hide themselves from predators, and predators use it to keep their prey from knowing they're coming after them!