kristinawood.com ~ View topic

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2620

The topic of herbivores and carnivores has been brought up before in other threads. I've been thinking of it again, though, and I'd also like to hear from Vanessa if possible.

Lately I've been thinkign of the whole herbivore/carnivore subject, mostly due to Kiala's interesting comment about sexual relations between them. I can't help but notice how few strict herbivores there are in the comic and community. Only five of the Royal avatars are herbivores(can you figure out who? One of them was a surprise to me), and none of the main cast of the comic. I think it's largely due to the popularity of felines, canines and mustelids, but it's still interesting to see that there aren't more herbivores.

I haven't been able to find any comments by Vanessa about what kind of food the different characters eat. Nor are there many scenes in the comic that seem to give a decisive answer. I can't figure out if the characters truly are herbivores/carnivores based on their species, or if they just eat like humans would.

So if you're reading this, Vanessa, can you tell us whether the people of Bon Bon are herbivores/carnivores/omnivores, and if it possibly affects them in other ways than eating habits. Like behaviour or how you personally view them or any such thing.

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 07 Sep 2006 Posts: 1000

Well, after a quick perusal through the Four Ace Gallery, my tally of obligate herbivores is Doc Horton the stag, Crimson the fruit bat, and of course the pair of equines. Drake and you. Razz

Biologically, one could try making the argument that there just aren't as many obligate herbivores compared to those who will eat meat. After all, few animals would easily ignore a nutrient rich foodstuff like meat should it be available. It also tends to be easier to digest if you have the biology to handle it. Dedicated herbivores tend to have to eat constantly and have big digestive tracts to process it. On the other paw, many 'carnivores' will often supplement their diets with anything nutrient rich they come across, like fruit.

As for why they are not chosen often, it is likely do to traits associated with these animals, such as zebras, horses, elephants, sheep, bovines, sloths, koalas, etc. They generally are either big, fat, and slow or they are extremely excitable, fast, and often terrified. Predators or opportunistic carnivores tend to be seen as more intelligent and more human-like. Predators are seen as being cool, too. Not to mention the ready familiarity many have with dogs and cats.

Looking at the food on display in Bon Bon, meat is present but doesn't take center stage often. As anyone with a dog or cat knows, they're pretty happy to eat human food. Even if it isn't meat it's nutrient rich and far more easily digested than raw grass and leaves. I'd guess 'carnivores' in Bon Bon would be more than happy to eat it, too. Whereas obligate herbivores can just dodge the meat/saturated fats.

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2620

Rank: Super Veteran Joined: 30 Sep 2009 Posts: 9138

from what i have seen in the comic especially comic 2 page 19 we see betty is eating a breakfast of eggs and what i believe to be bacon now im not 100% sure if mice are herbivore's or omnivore's and dont fruit bat's in the wild also eat insects as well as fruit this im also not sure.

acutely scratch that part on fruit bat's i just read the wiki and there strict herbivore's my bad i always thought they eat insects as well but as i saw they only eat fruit.

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 21 Jan 2010 Posts: 2264

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 29 May 2009 Posts: 6010

You might find this unusual, but mine is actually a strict herbivore, even though he is a fox. Still, when you think about it, most animals may be omnivores mostly because any of them need to eat more than meat to sustain themselves when they cannot make a catch of the day.

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 2620

I can easily imagine a carnivore eating other things than meat in Bon Bon. After all, it might seem strange to see someone eat nothing but meat during all meals of the day.
On the other hand, it just wouldn't seem right for a herbivore to eat a steak IMO.

Rank: Senior Member Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 288

well, as Dragonfly said, Betty really is eating bacon and eggs. Which is a little weird for a mouse. So, off of just that evidence alone, I would say that most of the folks in Bon Bon probably eat just like humans. Omnivores are clearly the way to go. Having said that, I think that nobody really questions where the meat came from or any such horrid ideas.

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 4247

What it is that the feral forms of themselves still exist so they probly get the meat from them.

http://www.furaffinity.net/user/brigwyn/ · Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 04 Oct 2008 Posts: 2914

Foxes like grapes and cheese.( Aesop's Fables)

Rank: Super Veteran Joined: 30 Sep 2009 Posts: 9138

i can't remember where i read it but big cats are know to break open melons and drink the juice for nutriments

Rank: Junior Member Joined: 02 Feb 2010 Posts: 118

Thanks Symphony, I do so enjoy your topics.

I had to think about this a bit and Avrie being a beaver would I believe be considered an herbivore; But somehow I picture him not turning down the occasional fish. (Seeing as he likes to hang out with Otters) But when I extended my thoughts to include his staff I stumbled on an interesting coincidence ... All of the fursonas I created for his staff agree on eating fish except for Morris and Albert, the equines of course. I just found that curious. I guess it would allow them to function very smoothly together; but I assure you it wasn't intentional.

Are there any good Sushi restaurants in Victorian Italy? Wink

Rank: Super Veteran Joined: 02 Oct 2009 Posts: 6733

Every bodies favorite snack Cheese and Crackers

Royal Member of BonBon Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 1120

wow my topic gets implemented further. well Anyways i am still with my old opinion of herbivores eating salad, and carnivores can go eating salad if they want, but also meat (rare? or well done? not sure)

still this is interesting topic

my fursona is also a snake once, and that would...confused me for snake has no teeth. I wonder how they eat in bon bon