What is a carnivore?

	Tweet			Pin It
0

Just like there are some animals who eat only vegetables (herbivores), there are other animals, called carnivores, who eat only meat! Animals who are carnivores include lions, wolves, whales, and certain birds such as owls. Because they usually must hunt for their food, carnivores are also sometimes called predators.

Since hunting is often an important aspect of carnivore life, most carnivores are equipped with special features like claws and sharp teeth. Without them, a carnivore could have a hard time finding lunch! Carnivores are also an important part of the balance in nature. Without carnivores (and omnivores) to eat other animals, many species of animals could quickly become over-populated, meaning there’s too many animals for Mother Nature to support them all properly. It’s all part of the cycle of life!

Animals aren’t the only ones who can be carnivores – some plants, like the Venus’ Flytrap, are carnivores too!

Eat up!

By eating other animals, carnivores are helpful because they make sure that there aren't too many herbivores and omnivores. This prevents an area from being too populated by certain animals. -- Why do you think it would be bad to have too many of one type of animal? Think about how it would affect supplies like water, as well as crowding.