IGCSE Biology glossary
Omnivore
Biology editorial review is supported by the named review panel. Reviewer participation may vary by guide. Checked against Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 (2026–2028); last reviewed August 2026.
Definition
An animal that feeds on both plants and animals. Omnivores can occupy more than one trophic level in a food web. Examples include humans, bears and pigs.
What to include in an exam answer
Omnivores are harder to place in simple food chains because they eat at multiple trophic levels. In food webs, they will have arrows from both producers and consumers.
Example in context
Explain why an omnivore is difficult to place at a single trophic level (1 mark): An omnivore eats both plants and animals, so it feeds at more than one trophic level.
Related syllabus topic
Organisms & their environment