As far as mammalian omnivores are concerned, doesn’t Homo sapiens take the cake? Diet-wise, we’re the AntiPanda.
Here’s a list of how extensive our tastes are ( I’ve been sick with time to kill, so the list is rather large).
(1) We eat mammals, lotsa them. Ronald will vouch for this.
(2) Reptiles, too (excluding lawyers). Eg, turtle soup, which has the advantage of coming with its own bowl.
(3) Amphibians. Just as the French eat up Jerry Lewis, they also devour frog legs.
(4) Fungus. Both the ones in the combo pizza, and the ones that make you see colours you never thought existed, such as Mardi Gras fuschia.
(5) Fish. I hate fish, but was forced to eat it as a kid coz some Pope said I should. Since then, I feel popes should be sleepin’ with da fish.
(6) Mollusks. She sells seashells by the seashore --her sign says ‘Buy-valve’.
(7) Arthropods. Crabs and lobsters, sure, but chocolate-covered ants??? What’s next, cockroaches a la mode?
(8) Minerals. Especially favoured by rock groups. Eg. Sha-NaCl-NaCl-NaCl.
(9) Bacteria. What’s a good cheese without good bacteria?
(10) Yeast. The greatest thing before sliced bread.
(11) Gases. Fizzy beers, dream-whip, my evening is complete.
(12) All matters of plants and tree-stuff. Is the tomato a fruit or a vegetable? It all depends on how you pronounce it!
(13) Algae. Used to good effect in Oriental soups and the better ice creams.
(14) Acids. Do you want acetic acid with yer fries?
(15) Chemical concoctions. OK by me!
Any other categories the steaming zillions can come up with?
An anecdotal addendum:
My friend Robert and I were collecting Silurian fossils in the Niagara region. These are OLD fossils, in the 300 million years old range, (very much pre-dinosaur, for those not too familiar with geological time-charts).
Robert came accross the remnants of a sea scorpion, which was so well-preserved that the cuticle (skin) was still rubbery. You guessed it: Robert ate it!
The next year, on his honeymoon, Robert took his lovely love to the site, and lucked out by finding another well-preserved sea-scorpion. And his bride ate it!
Both survived the experience, though they are now puzzled by McDonald’s refusal to serve McTrilobites.
Cheers!
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