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carnivore

Primary Information
Secondary Information

Definition

A carnivore is an organism that mostly eats meat or the flesh of animals. Carnivores have sharp teeth and claws that they use to catch and kill their prey. They also have a strong digestive system that can break down the tough tissues of meat.

Some examples of carnivores include lions, tigers, wolves, bears, and snakes. Carnivores play an important role in the ecosystem by helping to control the populations of other animals. They also provide food for other animals, such as scavengers and predators.

Here are some of the characteristics of carnivores:

  • They have sharp teeth and claws that they use to catch and kill their prey.
  • They have a strong digestive system that can break down the tough tissues of meat.
  • They are typically fast and agile.
  • They are often solitary animals, but some species, such as lions and wolves, live in groups.

How can the word be used?

The cat is a carnivorous predator.

carnivore

Different forms of the word

Noun: carnivore (plural: carnivores).

Adjective: carnivorous.

Verb: to carnivore.

Adverb: carnivorously.

Etymology

The word "carnivore" comes from the Latin words caro ("flesh") and vorare ("to devour"). The word was first used in English in the 16th century to refer to animals that eat meat.

Question

What does a carnivore eat?

AQA Science Exam Question and Answer

Question:

What are the defining characteristics of a carnivore?

Answer:

Carnivores are a group of animals that eat meat. They have a number of defining characteristics, including:

Sharp teeth: Carnivores have sharp teeth that are designed for tearing flesh.

Claws: Carnivores often have claws that are used for killing prey.

Short digestive system: Carnivores have short digestive systems because they do not need to break down plant material.

Fast metabolism: Carnivores have fast metabolisms because they need to eat a lot of meat to get the nutrients they need.

There are many different types of carnivores, including lions, tigers, wolves, bears, and cats. Carnivores play an important role in the ecosystem by helping to control populations of herbivores.