Vermivore

Vermivore (from Latin vermi, meaning "worm" and vorare, "to devour") is a zoological term for animals that primarily eat worms (including annelids, nematodes, and other worm-like animals).^[1] Animals with such a diet are known to be 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]

Pacific brown salamander eating a worm

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 four teeth and may live exclusively on a diet of earthworms.^[4] This reduced dentition in vermivorous mammals is said to be due to relaxed selectional pressure on dental occlusion.^[5]

Process

The process of getting worms and using them as a source of nutrients, whether by animals (in nature) or humans (in food systems or composting), involves several biological and/or ecological steps. Here's a breakdown depending on the context:

1. Detection: Vermivores use their senses, like smell, vibration detection, or sight, to locate worms underground or above ground.
2. Extraction: Vermivores will dig or peck their way to the worm or what til they come to the surface(usually at night or in the rain). Then they retrieve it.
3. Ingestion: The worm is consumed whole or in parts.
4. Digestion and Absorption: Worms are high in protein, amino acids, iron, and moisture.^[6] Vermivor’s digestive system breaks the worm down into usable nutrients, absorbed into the bloodstream for energy and growth.^[7]

Examples of vermivores

• American robin
• Americobdella leeches
• Ants
• Anurids (frogs and toads)
• Bluebirds
• Burrowing owls
• Carabids (ground beetles)
• Centipedes
• Conus sea snails
• Corvids (crows, ravens, etc.)
• Galliformes (incl. chickens, junglefowl, peafowl, pheasants, turkeys, quail)
• Hedgehogs
• Icterids (New-World blackbirds)
• Jaspidiconus sea snails
• Killdeer
• Kiwi (bird)
• Lizards
• Long-beaked echidna^[8]
• Moles^[9]
• Nematodes
• Newts
• Nuthatches
• Platypus
• Plovers
• Rough green snake
• Salamanders
• Smooth green snake
• Shrews
• Starlings
• Tuatara
• Turtles (freshwater and terrestrial species)
• Woodcock
• Woodpeckers
• Wormsnake
• Wrens

See also

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