Narrow-mindedness

Refers to an animal's narrow range of food choices, the opposite of polyphagy. When the choice is very narrow and an animal only eats organisms of a specific species or genus, this trait is called monophagy. Nerve-eating animals often display morphology and behavior suited to consuming foods of a specific nature. Because their food choices are narrow, they are thought to be vulnerable to environmental changes in their habitat. Silkworms, which eat mulberry leaves, are an example of animals that exhibit this trait. Also, many plant-eating insects are narrow-eating, as is known from the fact that insect collectors often first look for food plants for the insects.

[Kenji Takamura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

動物の食物の選択範囲が狭いことをいい、広食性の対語。選択範囲が非常に狭くて特定の種あるいは属の生物を食べる場合、とくにこの性質を単食性という。狭食性の動物は、特定の性質の食物をとるのに適した形態や行動を示すことが多い。食物の選択範囲が狭いので、すみ場所の環境変化に弱いと考えられる。クワの葉を食べるカイコがこの性質を示す動物に含まれる。また昆虫採集の際に、まず虫の食草を探すことが多いことからも知られるように、植物を食べる昆虫は狭食性のものが多い。

［高村健二］

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