I am wondering if there is a proper term for mammal species that are browsers, but primarily feed on the woody tissues of a plant as opposed to the leaves and shoots. Examples that come to mind are species like beavers (Castor spp.) and North American porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum). Would xylophagy be the correct term?
I am sure beaver eats not the woody tissue itself - food basis is bark, shoots and leaves, also grasses.
Wood-eating organisms can be defined as: hylophagous or lignivorous, but remember beavers are also radicivorous or rhizophagous (root eating) organisms. Check out the page at http://phrontistery.info/feed.html to get all feeding terminologies - it is pretty good resource.
Russell, perhaps not the best phrased question given the responses you are getting, but I understand what you mean. Beavers eat bark as well as the cambium layer beneath it, roots, as well as many other plants and plant parts. Xylophagy may be a better fit for something like woodworm species (of which there are quite a few).
@Aleksandra Yes, that is what I meant. Organisms in which a significant component of the diet is the tougher, woodier tissues of a plant, not necessarily secondary xylem, but bark, woody grasses like bamboo, etc. That is why I was reluctant to use the term xylophagy.
Well caught @Anthony! I was trying to think of that one in relation to marine fish which eat hard-shelled species - it just wasn't coming to mind!
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