Comparison of Nutritional Ecologies

All of these animals complete the digestion cycle in different ways. Highlighted below are some similarities and differences in all of our species.

Plants & Grass

Eaten primarily by hippos, also by macaws when it comes to foliage

Insects

Eaten by Chameleon's and Macaws

Animal Meat

Eaten by Ocelots & Honey Badgers

Similarity #1 - Breathe and Be Eaten

While all of these animals seem to be very different in their diets, ranging from herbivores, to omnivores, to carnivores, they all consume something that has breathed as a part of their diet. Hippos will occasionally stumble upon and consume dead carcasses, macaws consume insects on the regular, and Honey Badgers, Ocelots, and Chameleons all consume meat as a staple in their diet. The various complexities of these substances can be seen in the digestive systems of these animals, the simplest digestive system being that of the ocelot that consumes only meat.

Similarity #2 - Pray or Else You're Prey

All these animals are prey. They are hunted by some other animal at some point in time. The ocelot is hunted by eagles, jaguars, and even anacondas. Adult hippos are not necessarily preyed but ask any mother, and they'll tell you they'd take their child's place if they were being chased by a hyena, lion, or crocodile while taking a daily bath. Honey badgers, similar to hippos, are hunted by lions, hyenas, but also leopards. Macaws, specifically the hyacinth macaw is endangered, but they are mostly hunted by humans for illegal sale throughout the world. Chameleons are preyed on by birds and snakes, of course not the macaw though.

Difference #1- Continuous vs. Discontinuous Eaters

Continuous Feeders

The hippopotamus is a continuous feeder where they spend most of their day in the water and graze for food during the night.

Chameleons are also continuous feeders, on the constant lookout for food to help keep them alive.

Macaws are continuous feeders as well, as they eat all day and can never get enough of it!

Discontinuous Feeders

Honey badgers are discontinuous hunters which primarily nocturnal hunters in the summer but become diurnal in the winter months.

Ocelots are also discontinuous feeders, as they travel around their territory at night and they kill throughout the night.

Difference #2- Herbivores, Omnivores & Carnivores

Herbivores

The hippopotamus eat majority grass, fruit and some aquatic plants. They can eat up to 88 pounds a night while grazing over 5 miles worth of land. Macaws are also considered herbivores where their diets consist of nut fruits and seeds.

Omnivores

Hippopotamus's can sometimes lean toward an omnivorous diet when they eat a dead animal carcass. Though their main diet is primarily made up of plants and fruits, rare circumstances will show a hippo attacking a zebra or kuduk. Chameleon's are also considered omnivores. Their diet consists mostly of insects, such as crickets and grasshoppers. When food is scarce they fall back on a vegetation diet such as dandelions which contains viable nutrients and vitamins. Also, the honey badger is considered an omnivore due to it's wide variety diet. They often consume insect, mammals, reptiles, roots and berries. They love feeding on honey and honey larvel which gave them their name.

Carnivores

The ocelot eat mainly other animals such as mice, snakes, rabbits, fish and lizards. They eat at night because they are nocturnal and require high amount of hunting. They hunt alone and don't share their caught prey unless it's for their offspring.

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