A frugivore (/fruːdʒɪvɔːr/) is an animal that thrives mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, shoots, nuts and seeds. Approximately 20% of mammalian herbivores eat fruit.[1] Frugivores are highly dependent on the abundance and nutritional composition of fruits. Frugivores can benefit or hinder fruit-producing plants by either dispersing or destroying their seeds through digestion. When both the fruit-producing plant and the frugivore benefit by fruit-eating behavior the interaction is a form of mutualism.
- ^ Danell, Kjell; Bergström, Roger (February 2002). "Mammalian herbivory in terrestrial environments". In Herrera, Carlos M.; Pellmyr, Olle (eds.). Plant–Animal Interactions: An Evolutionary Approach. Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 978-0632052677. LCCN 2004302984.