Final answer:
Carnivores and insectivores could potentially inhabit land without plants, as their diets do not rely on plant matter. Herbivores would not survive due to their plant-based diet, and omnivores might only survive if they found enough animal-based food.
Step-by-step explanation:
The types of animals that might have been able to inhabit the land without plants being present would likely be carnivores or insectivores, as these animals do not rely directly on plants for their food source. Herbivores are animals whose primary food source is plant-based, such as deer and rabbits, and thus would not thrive in an environment without plants. Omnivores, which include humans, bears, and chickens, might survive to a certain extent if they could find sufficient animal-based food, but those that lean more heavily on plant-based diets would struggle. Insectivores, who primarily eat insects, might find enough food if the insect population could sustain itself without plant matter (perhaps by feeding on detritus or other animals).