Which term best describes an animal that eats plants?

The term that best describes an animal that eats plants is "herbivore." Herbivores are organisms that primarily consume plant material, which includes leaves, stems, flowers, fruits, and roots. They play a crucial role in the ecosystem by allowing energy from the sun, captured by plants through photosynthesis, to be transferred through the food chain.

Herbivores are typically adapted to their diets with specific physical traits, such as flat teeth for grinding plant matter and digestive systems designed to break down tough plant fibers.

In contrast, carnivores are animals that eat other animals. Omnivores consume both plant and animal matter, making their dietary habits more varied. Decomposers, such as fungi and bacteria, break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem, but they do not consume living plants or animals directly. This distinction highlights the unique role of herbivores within natural food webs.