![]() An example comes from the research of Tim Clutton-Brock, who found that the black-and-white colobus, a folivore generalist, needs a home range of only 15 ha. When body weight is controlled for, specialist feeders such as insectivores and frugivores have larger home ranges than generalists like some folivores (leaf-eaters), whose food-source is less abundant they need a bigger area for foraging. It will die during winters at high latitudes or if it receives too much water. A cactus could be considered a specialist species. For example, some plants require a narrow range of temperatures, soil conditions and precipitation to survive while others can tolerate a broader range of conditions. The distinction between generalists and specialists is not limited to animals. The raccoon is a generalist, because it has a natural range that includes most of North and Central America, and it is omnivorous, eating berries, insects such as butterflies, eggs, and various small animals. A well-known example of a specialist animal is the monophagous koala, which subsists almost entirely on eucalyptus leaves. ![]() ![]() Herbivores are often specialists, but those that eat a variety of plants may be considered generalists. ![]() Generalists such as raccoons can sometimes adapt to urban environments and other areas modified by humans, becoming examples of urban wildlife. ![]()
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