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"Carnivorism" redirects here. For the diet, see Zero-Carb Diet.
For other uses, see Carnivore (disambiguation).
Lions are voracious carnivores; they can require up to seven kilograms (15 lbs) of meat per day. Large mammals, like this African Buffalo, comprise an important part of their diet.
Lions are voracious carnivores; they can require up to seven kilograms (15 lbs) of meat per day. The lion ( Panthera leo) is a member of the family Felidae and one of four Big cats in the Genus Panthera. In modern English usage meat most often refers to Animal tissue used as food mostly Skeletal muscle and associated Fat, but it may also refer Large mammals, like this African Buffalo, comprise an important part of their diet. Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands The African Buffalo or Cape Buffalo ( Syncerus caffer) is a large African bovid.

A carnivore (IPA: /ˈkɑrnɪvɔər/), meaning 'meat eater' (Latin carne meaning 'flesh' and vorare meaning 'to devour'), is an animal with a diet consisting mainly of meat, whether it comes from animals living (predation) or dead (scavenging). Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. This article is primarily about the human diet For a discussion of animal diets see List of feeding behaviours. In modern English usage meat most often refers to Animal tissue used as food mostly Skeletal muscle and associated Fat, but it may also refer Scavenging, or necrophagy, is a Carnivorous Feeding behaviour in which a predator consumes Corpses or Carrion that were killed

In a more general sense, animals are loosely considered carnivores if their feeding behaviour consists of preying on other animals rather than grazing on plants. There are many predatory invertebrates, for example arthropods such as spiders or mantises and various species of predatory land snails and sea snails. An invertebrate is an Animal lacking a Vertebral column. The group includes 98% of all animal Species — all animals except those in the Chordate Arthropods are Animals belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda (from Greek ἄρθρον arthron, " Joint " Spiders are Predatory Invertebrate Animals that have two body segments, eight legs no chewing mouth parts and no wings The Insect order Mantodea or mantises consists of approximately 2000 species worldwide in Temperate and Tropical habitats of The word snail is a Common name that can be used for almost all members of the Molluscan class Gastropoda which have coiled shells in the

Animals that subsist on a diet consisting only of meat are referred to as obligate carnivores.

Plants that capture and digest insects are called carnivorous plants. Carnivorous plants (sometimes called insectivorous plants) are Plants that derive some or most of their Nutrients (but not Energy) from trapping Similarly fungi that capture microscopic animals are often called carnivorous fungi. Carnivorous fungi or predaceous fungi are fungi that derive some or most of their Nutrients from trapping and digesting microscopic or other minute

The designation "hypercarnivore" is used to describe animals that exclusively feed on animal tissue. A hypercarnivore is an animal that exclusively eats meat and nothing else Additionally, it is used in paleobiology to describe taxa of animals which have an increased slicing component of their dentition relative to the grinding component. Paleobiology (sometimes spelled palaeobiology) is a growing and comparatively new discipline which combines the methods and findings of the Natural science Biology A taxon (plural taxa) or taxonomic unit, is a name designating an organism or a group of Organisms In Biological nomenclature according to Dentition is the development of Teeth and their arrangement in the Mouth. [1]

Contents

Classification

The Venus flytrap, a well known carnivorous plant
The Venus flytrap, 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 Venus Flytrap Dionaea muscipula, is a Carnivorous plant that catches and digests animal prey&mdashmostly Insects and Arachnids Carnivorous plants (sometimes called insectivorous plants) are Plants that derive some or most of their Nutrients (but not Energy) from trapping Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of Insects and similar small creatures Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two A Piscivore is a carnivorous animal which lives on eating Fish. Carnivory that entails the consumption of members of an organism's own species is referred to as cannibalism. Cannibalism is the act of one individual of a species consuming all or part of another individual of the same species as food This includes sexual cannibalism and cannibalistic infanticide. This article is about arthropod behavior for the human psychological disorder see sexually motivated cannibalism Sexual cannibalism is a special In Animals infanticide involves the Killing of young Offspring by a mature animal of its own Species, and is studied in Zoology

The word "carnivore" sometimes refers to the mammalian Order Carnivora, but this is misleading. Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands The diverse order Carnivora (kɑrˈnɪvərə or sometimes /ˌkɑrnɪˈvɔərə/ from Latin carō (stem carn-) "flesh" + vorāre Although many Carnivora fit the first definition of being exclusively meat eaters, not all do. For example, bears are members of Carnivora that are not carnivores in the dietary sense, and pandas are almost exclusively herbivorous. The Giant Panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca, "black-and-white cat-foot" is a Mammal classified in the Bear family ( Ursidae) native to Likewise, some full-time (dolphins, shrews) and part-time (humans, pigs) predatory species among mammals, let alone all carnivorous non-mammals, are not members of Carnivora. Dolphins are Marine mammals that are closely related to Whales and Porpoises There are almost forty species of dolphin in seventeen genera. Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus Pigs, also called hogs or' swine', are Ungulates which have been domesticated as sources of food leather and similar products since ancient times

Outside of the animal kingdom, there are several genera containing carnivorous plants and several phyla containing carnivorous fungi. Carnivorous plants (sometimes called insectivorous plants) are Plants that derive some or most of their Nutrients (but not Energy) from trapping Carnivorous fungi or predaceous fungi are fungi that derive some or most of their Nutrients from trapping and digesting microscopic or other minute The former are predominantly insectivores, while the latter prey mostly on microscopic invertebrates such as nematodes, amoeba and springtails. An invertebrate is an Animal lacking a Vertebral column. The group includes 98% of all animal Species — all animals except those in the Chordate The nematodes or roundworms ( Phylum Nematoda from Greek (nema "thread" + -ode "like" are one of the most common Amoeba (sometimes amœba or ameba, plural amoebae) is a Genus of Protozoa that moves Springtails ( Collembola) form the largest of the three lineages of modern hexapods that are no longer considered Insects (the other two are the

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. Carnivoramorpha are a Clade of Mammals that includes the modern order Carnivora and its closest extinct relatives in the Miacoidea ( Miacoidea is an extinct Paraphyletic superfamily that has been traditionally divided into two families of Carnivores: Miacidae The creodonts are an Extinct order of Mammals that lived from the Paleocene to the Miocene epochs Cimolesta (from Greek literally "White Clay Thieves" is an extinct order of Mammals A few experts place the Pangolins within Cimolesta though 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. Cimolestes ("Bug Thief" is a genus of early Eutherians The species are found primarily in North America, where they first appeared during The chuprichondira geological time interval covers roughly the time span between the demise of the non- avian Dinosaurs and beginning of the most recent Ice Age, approximately 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 Cretaceous (kriːˈteɪʃəs, usually abbreviated 'K' for its German translation "Kreide" is a geologic period and system, reaching from the end of Marmots are members of the Genus Marmota, in the Rodent family Sciuridae (squirrels The Mesozoic Era is one of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon. 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. Palaeoryctes is an extinct genus of mammal from Middle to Late Palaeocene of North America. The dentition of Cimolestes foreshadows the same cutting structures seen in all later carnivores. Dentition is the development of Teeth and their arrangement in the Mouth. 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. An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of Insects and similar small creatures 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 Paleocene or Palaeocene, "early dawn of the recent" is a geologic epoch that lasted from 65 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, although not mammals, were "obligate carnivores". Theropods (ˈθɪərəpɒd theropoda /θiːˈrɒpədə/ 'beast feet' are a group of Bipedal Saurischian Dinosaurs Although they were primarily Tyrannosaurus ( or, meaning 'tyrant lizard' is a Genus of Theropod Dinosaur. The Cretaceous (kriːˈteɪʃəs, usually abbreviated 'K' for its German translation "Kreide" is a geologic period and system, reaching from the end of

Obligate carnivores

This tiger's sharp teeth and strong jaws are the classical physical traits expected from carnivorous mammalian predators
This tiger's sharp teeth and strong jaws are the classical physical traits expected from carnivorous mammalian predators

An obligate or true carnivore is an animal that must eat meat in order to thrive. The tiger ( Panthera tigris) is a member of the Felidae family the largest and the most powerful of the four " Big cats quot in the Genus [2] Hypercarnivores present specialized dentition for a meat-only diet. A hypercarnivore is an animal that exclusively eats meat and nothing else They may consume other products presented to them, especially animal products like eggs and bone marrow or sweet sugary substances like honey and syrup, but, as these items are not essential, they do not consume these on a regular basis. Animal products are either produced by an Animal or taken from the body of an animal Bone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the hollow interior of Bones In adults marrow in large bones produces new Blood cells It constitutes 4% of Honey is a sweet and Viscous fluid produced by Honey bees (and some other species and derived from the nectar of Flowers According to the In Cooking, a syrup (from Arabic' ar شراب sharab, beverage via Latin siropus) is a thick Viscous Liquid True carnivores lack the physiology required for the efficient digestion of vegetable matter, and, in fact, some carnivorous mammals eat vegetation specifically as an emetic. Physiology (from Greek grc φύσις physis, "nature origin" and grc -λογία -logia) is the study of the mechanical physical Digestion is the breaking down of chemicals in the body into a form that can be absorbed Vomiting (also called throwing up, emesis) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's Stomach through the Mouth and sometimes the The domestic cat is a prime example of an obligate carnivore, as are all of the other felids. WikipediaManual of Style (spelling, articles should conform to one overall spelling style of English typically the one most linked to the article topic (if it is geographic Felidae is the biological family of the cats a member of this family is called a felid. [3]

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). Scavenging, or necrophagy, is a Carnivorous Feeding behaviour in which a predator consumes Corpses or Carrion that were killed 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. A mineral is a naturally occurring substance formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition a highly ordered atomic structure and specific A vitamin is an Organic compound required as a Nutrient in tiny amounts by an Organism. Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the Digestive system, absorbing water and easing Defecation. Most wild carnivores consume this in the digestive system of their prey. Digestion is the breaking down of chemicals in the body into a form that can be absorbed 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. A nutrient is food or chemicals that an organism needs to live and grow or a substance used in an organism's metabolism which must be taken in from its environment

List of carnivores

In contrast to the tiger, these Emperor penguins show that teeth and claws are not necessary to be a carnivore. They feed on crustaceans, fish, squid, and other small marine life.
In contrast to the tiger, these Emperor penguins show that teeth and claws are not necessary to be a carnivore. The Emperor Penguin ( Aptenodytes forsteri) is the tallest and heaviest of all living Penguin species and is endemic to Antarctica. They feed on crustaceans, fish, squid, and other small marine life.
Great Blue Heron with a snake
Great Blue Heron with a snake

See also

Compare and contrast

References

  1. ^ Holliday, Jill A; Steppan, Scott J (2004). Crocodilia is an order of large Reptiles that appeared about 84 million years ago in the late Cretaceous Period ( Campanian stage The Komodo dragon ( Varanus komodoensis) is a species of Lizard that inhabits the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Turtles are Reptiles of the Order Testudines (all living turtles belong to the Crown group Chelonia) most of There are two extant Species of the family Chelydridae: Chelydra serpentina, the Common Snapping Turtle, and its larger relative Macrochelys Sea turtles ( Superfamily Chelonioidea) are Turtles found in all the world's oceans except the Arctic Ocean. Sharks ( Superorder Selachimorpha) are a type of Fish with a full cartilaginous Skeleton and a highly streamlined body Tuna, are several Species of ocean-dwelling Fish in the family Scombridae, mostly in the genus Thunnus. Marlin, Istiophoridae, is a member of a larger grouping of marine Fishes known as "billfish" of which several are popular in Big-game fishing Salmon is the common name for several species of Fish of the family Salmonidae. Bass (ˈbæs is a name shared by many different species of popular Gamefish. The Squid are marine Cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species The cone snails or cone shells, sometimes simply known as "cones" (family Conidae) are a Taxonomic family of medium-sized to large sophisticated Spiders are Predatory Invertebrate Animals that have two body segments, eight legs no chewing mouth parts and no wings Scorpions are eight-legged Carnivorous Arthropods They are members of the order Scorpiones within the class Arachnida. Arachnids are a class ( Arachnida) of joint-legged Invertebrate Animals in the subphylum Chelicerata. The Insect order Mantodea or mantises consists of approximately 2000 species worldwide in Temperate and Tropical habitats of Belostomatidae is a family of Insects in the Order Hemiptera, known as giant water bugs or colloquially as toe-biters. Cnidaria (naɪˈdɛəriə is a phylum containing some 9000 Species of Animals found exclusively in aquatic mostly marine, environments Starfish (also called sea stars) are any Echinoderms belonging to the class Asteroidea. Carnivorous plants (sometimes called insectivorous plants) are Plants that derive some or most of their Nutrients (but not Energy) from trapping Carnivorous fungi or predaceous fungi are fungi that derive some or most of their Nutrients from trapping and digesting microscopic or other minute An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of Insects and similar small creatures A Piscivore is a carnivorous animal which lives on eating Fish. Cannibalism is the act of one individual of a species consuming all or part of another individual of the same species as food A man-eater is a colloquial term for an animal that adds Humans to its diet Herbivory is a form of Predation in which an Organism, known as a herbivore, consumes principally Autotrophs ref name=Campbell>Campbell Omnivores (from Latin omne all everything vorare to devour are species that eat both Plants and Animals as their primary Vegetarianism is the practice of a diet that excludes Meat (including game and slaughter by-products Fish (including Shellfish and other sea Evolution of hypercarnivory: the effect of specialization on morphological and taxonomic diversity. Paleobiology, Winter 2004 30: 108. doi:10.1666/0094-8373(2004)030<0108:EOHTEO>2.0.CO;2. A digital object identifier ( DOI) is a permanent identifier given to an Electronic document.  
  2. ^ "Definition: Obligate Carnivore" Cats. About. com
  3. ^ Feeding Your Cat: Know the Basics of Feline Nutrition, Lisa A. Pierson, DVM at catinfo. org]

Dictionary

carnivore

-noun

  1. Any animal that eats meat as the main part of its diet.
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