A carnivore (), meaning 'meat eater' (Latin carne meaning 'flesh' and vorare meaning 'to devour'), is an animal that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of vertebrate and/or invertebrate animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging. [1] [2] Animals that depend solely on animal flesh for their nutrient requirements are considered obligate carnivores while those that also consume non-animal food are considered facultative carnivores. Omnivores too consume both animal and non-animal food, and apart from the more general definition, there is no clearly defined ratio of plant to animal material that would distinguish a facultative carnivore from an omnivore, or an omnivore from a facultative herbivore, for that matter. [3] A carnivore that sits at the top of the foodchain is an apex predator. Plants that capture and digest insects are called carnivorous plants. Similarly fungi that capture microscopic animals are often called carnivorous fungi.

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Classification

thumb, a well known carnivorous plant Carnivores that eat insects and similar invertebrates primarily or exclusively are called insectivores, while those that eat fish primarily or exclusively are called piscivores.

The word "carnivore" sometimes refers to the mammalian Order Carnivora, but this is somewhat misleading. Although many Carnivora fit the definition of being exclusively meat eaters, not all do. For example, most species of bears are omnivorous, with the exception being the Giant Panda, which is almost exclusively herbivorous, and the carnivorous Polar bear. In addition, many carnivorous species are not members of Carnivora.

Outside of the animal kingdom, there are several genera containing carnivorous plants and several phyla containing carnivorous fungi. The former are predominantly insectivores, while the latter prey mostly on microscopic invertebrates such as nematodes, amoeba and springtails.

Obligate carnivores

thumb's sharp teeth and strong jaws are the classical physical traits expected from carnivorous mammalian predators An obligate or true carnivore depends solely on the nutrients found in animal flesh for their survival. While they may consume small amounts of plant material they lack the physiology required for the efficient digestion of vegetable matter, and, in fact, some carnivorous mammals eat vegetation specifically as an emetic. The domestic cat is a prime example of an obligate carnivore, as are all of the other felids. The ability to produce synthetic forms of nutrients such as taurine in the lab has allowed feed manufacturers to formulate foods for carnivores (zoo animals and pets) with varying amounts of plant material.

A hypercarnivore feeds exclusively on meat and presents specialized dentition for a meat-only diet.

Characteristics of carnivores

Characteristics commonly 'associated' with carnivores include organs for capturing and disarticulating prey (teeth and claws serve these functions in many vertebrates) and status as a predator. In truth, these assumptions may be misleading, as some carnivores do not hunt and are scavengers (though most hunting carnivores will scavenge when the opportunity exists). Thus they do not have the characteristics associated with hunting carnivores. Carnivores have comparatively short digestive systems as they are not required to break down tough cellulose found in plants.

Plant material

In most cases, some plant material is essential for adequate nutrition, particularly with regard to minerals, vitamins and fiber. Most wild carnivores consume this in the digestive system of their prey. Many carnivores also eat herbivore dung, presumably to obtain essential nutrients that they could not otherwise obtain, since their dentition and digestive system do not permit efficient processing of vegetable matter.

Prehistoric carnivores

Prehistoric mammals of the crown-clade Carnivoramorpha (Carnivora and Miacoidea without Creodonta), along with the early Order Creodonta, and some mammals of the even early Order Cimolesta, were true carnivores. The earliest carnivorous mammal is considered to be the Cimolestes that existed during the Late Cretaceous and Tertiary Periods in North America about 65 million years ago. Most species of Cimolestes were mouse to rat-sized, but the Late Cretaceous Cimolestes magnus reached the size of a marmot, making it one of the largest Mesozoic mammals known (20-60g). The cheek teeth combined the functions of piercing, shearing and grinding, and the molars of Palaeoryctes had extremely high and acute cusps that had little function other than piercing. The dentition of Cimolestes foreshadows the same cutting structures seen in all later carnivores. While the earlier smaller species were insectivores, the later marmot-sized Cimolestes magnus probably took larger prey and were definitely a carnivore to some degree. The cheek teeth of Hyracolestes ermineus (an ermine-like shrew - 40g) and Sarcodon pygmaeus ("pygmy flesh tooth" - 75g), were common in the Latest Paleocene of Mongolia and China and occupied the small predator niche. The cheek teeth show the same characteristic notches that serve in today's carnivores to hold flesh in place to shear apart with cutting ridges.

The theropod dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex that existed during the late Cretaceous were "obligate carnivores".

List of extant carnivores

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;Mammals

• All feliforms, such as domestic cats, big cats, hyenas, mongooses, civets
• Most caniforms, such as the dogs, wolves, foxes, ferrets, seals and walruses
• All cetaceans, such as dolphins, whales and porpoises
• All bats (except fruitbats)
• The carnivorous marsupials, such as the tasmanian devil

;Birds

• All birds of prey, such as hawks, eagles, falcons and owls
• All vultures, both old world and new
• Some waterfowl, such as gulls, penguins, pelicans, storks, and herons

;Reptiles

• All crocodilians, such as alligators, crocodiles, gharials and caimans
• All snakes, such as cobras, vipers, pythons and boas
• Some lizards, such as most skinks and all monitor lizards
• Some turtles, including the snapping turtle and most sea turtles

;Fish and amphibians

• Most anurans, such as frogs and toads
• All sharks, such as tiger, great white, nurse and reef sharks
• Many bony fish, such as tuna, marlin, salmon, and bass

;Invertebrates

• Some molluscs, such as octopuses and squid, and some gastropods
• Most arachnids, such as spiders and scorpions
• Many insects, such as mantises, dragonflies and most wasps
• All jellyfish and sea stars

See also

• List of feeding behaviours
• Antipredator adaptation

References

1. Nutrient Requirements: Carnivores. Duane E. Ullrey. Encyclopedia of Animal Science.
2. Mammals: Carnivores. Duane E. Ullrey. Encyclopedia of Animal Science.
3. Mammals: Omnivores. Duane E. Ullrey. Encyclopedia of Animal Science.