Feeding Mechanisms of Animals

All animals have evolved successful methods for extracting their required nutrition from the environment. Thus we find a diversity of feeding mechanisms or strategies according to the nature of food that an animal can obtain. Table lists the major feeding methods in-animal groups based on the type of food available. It would not be possible to discuss each food gathering device in detail but in a brief discussion we shall consider the basic principles on which the different feeding mechanism operate. From Table you will note that taxonomically different animal groups living in the same habitat obtain food in a similar manner. For example, many marine animals (annelids, molluscs, crustaceans) may be filter feeders though the organs concerned with the process of filtration may not be anatomically similar.

Table:  Feeding methods classified according to type of food