Herbivore explained to kids

Herbivores are animals that eat plants. They are an important part of the food chain because they help to convert plants into food that can be eaten by other animals. There are many different types of herbivores, from small insects to large mammals. Some herbivores are able to digest the cellulose in plants, which is a complex carbohydrate. Cellulose is a major component of plant cell walls and is indigestible to most animals. Herbivores that can digest cellulose are called ruminants. Ruminants include cows, sheep, and goats. These animals have a four-chamber stomach that ferments the cellulose, which breaks down the plant cell walls and the animals can extract a lot of nutrients from the plants they eat. Other herbivores, such as horses, have a simple stomach and can only extract a limited amount of nutrients from the plants they eat. This is why horses need to eat a lot of food - they need to eat a lot of plants to get the nutrients they need. Herbivores are important to the environment because they help to recycle nutrients back into the soil. When they defecate, their feces contain nitrogen and other minerals that are essential for plant growth.