Is a kangaroo rat an omnivore herbivore a carnivore or a decomposer?

Answer 1

Depending on the species, kangaroos are either herbivores or omnivores. There are no carnivorous species of kangaroos; nor are any kangaroos classed as decomposers.

The animals most commonly known as kangaroos are herbivores, primarily eating grass and other vegetation. Besides grass, they eat young shoots and tender leaves of native shrubs. They enjoy grains as well, but being herbivorous, they do not eat any other animals. Kangaroos are grazing animals, and they will regurgitate their food to chew like cattle chew their cud. These kangaroos include the larger red and grey kangaroos, as well as wallaroos, wallabies, quokkas, potoroos and bettongs/rat-kangaroos. Bettongs also eat fungi and tubers. Smaller varieties of kangaroos such as the musky-rat kangaroo are omnivores, eating fruits, seeds, fungi insect larvae and small invertebrates such as grasshoppers and beetles.

Tree kangaroos are generally classed as either herbivores or frugivores (fruit-eating), as they eat leaves, and sometimes fruit. Some varieties of tree kangaroo are omnivores, eating insects and other invertebrates. The Goodfellow's tree kangaroo, for example has been known to eat eggs and small birds as well.

Answer 2

Kangaroo rats are primarily granivores (seed-eaters). They eat seeds from the desert grasses in their habitat.

They also eat plant parts such as leaves, stems, buds, some fruit, and many of them eat insects, grubs and larvae. This means they are omnivores.

Kangaroo rats are not the same as rat kangaroos of Australia.