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Carnivores

Definition

Carnivores are animals that primarily eat other animals. They have adaptations such as sharp teeth and claws to help them catch and kill their prey.

Analogy

Think of carnivores like the ultimate meat lovers at a barbecue. Just as these people would go straight for the steak or chicken, ignoring the salad or veggie burgers, carnivores in nature focus on consuming other animals.

Related terms

Predator: An animal that hunts, kills, and eats other animals for food. Predators are often at the top of the food chain.

Scavenger: Animals that consume dead organisms that they did not kill themselves. While they also eat meat like carnivores, they don't typically hunt their own food.

Herbivore: These are animals that eat plants. They're like the vegetarians of the animal kingdom, focusing on greens instead of meats.

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.