Carnivorous animals

Content

• Characteristics of carnivorous animals
• Classification of carnivorous animals
• Examples of carnivorous animals

The carnivorous animals They are those that eat the meat of other animals. For example: the dog, lion, snake. They get the nutrients from a diet that may be based entirely or partially on meat consumption.

Carnivorous animals are present throughout the animal kingdom. There are birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and carnivorous insects.

Characteristics of carnivorous animals

• They are usually found at the top of the food chain.
• They have a digestive system capable of assimilating meat, shorter than that of herbivores since it does not have to destroy the cellulose present in vegetables.
• Depending on the species, they have physical characteristics that allow them to capture and devour other animals: claws, heightened senses, night vision, and developed teeth.
• They are important for the balance of the ecosystem, since they avoid the overpopulation of certain species.

Classification of carnivorous animals

Carnivorous animals can be classified according to the way they obtain food and according to the percentage of meat they include in their diet.

According to the method used to obtain food:

• Hunter carnivores (or predators). They are animals that track their prey and hunt it on their own (alone or in a group). For example: the crocodile.
• Scavenger carnivores (or raptors). They are animals that feed on naturally dead prey or victims of a predator. For example: The Raven.

According to the level of meat consumption in your diet:

• Strict carnivores. They are animals that feed exclusively on meat, since they do not have a digestive system suitable for the consumption of vegetables. For example: the Tiger.
• Flexible carnivores. They are animals that eat mostly meat but can occasionally ingest vegetable matter in small amounts. For example: hyena.
• Occasional carnivores. They are primarily omnivorous animals that can consume meat during a period of vegetable shortage. For example: the raccoon.

• It can serve you: Predators and their prey

Examples of carnivorous animals

Examples of carnivorous mammals

Examples of carnivorous reptiles

Examples of carnivorous birds

Examples of carnivorous fish

They can serve you:

• Herbivorous animals
• Viviparous animals
• Oviparous animals
• Ruminant animals