From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A molluscivore is a carnivorous animal which eats mainly molluscs. The term durophagy is used to describe this eating behavior.
Several species of pufferfish and loaches fit this category. As many molluscs are protected by a shell, the feeding techniques applied amongst molluscivore fish are highly specialized and usually divided into two groups; "crushers" and "slurpers." Pufferfish tend to be crushers and will use their beak-like teeth to break the shell in order to gain access to the meat inside. Loaches are specialized slurpers, and will make use of their characteristically shaped snout in order to grab hold of the animal living inside the shell.
Among birds, the eponymous shorebirds known as oystercatchers are renowned for feeding upon bivalves. At least one bird of prey is also primarily a molluscivore - the Snail Kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis.
