Carnivore

Definition

An organism that obtains its primary nutrition and energy by consuming animal tissues, whether through active predation or scavenging. In arthropod ecology, carnivory represents a major trophic strategy distinct from herbivory and detritivory, encompassing diverse feeding modes from pursuit hunting to ambush predation and saprophagy on carrion.

Etymology

From Latin caro, carnis (flesh) + vorare (to devour)

Example

Dragonfly nymphs are aquatic carnivores that capture prey with a specialized labium modified into a prehensile mask; adult odonates extend this carnivorous habit aerially, seizing mosquitoes and other small insects in flight using their spiny raptorial legs.

Synonyms

• zoophage
• meat-eater

Related Terms

• Predator
• scavenger
• zoophagous
• Insectivore
• Parasitoid
• Trophic level
• Food web
• mesopredator
• hypercarnivore

Usage Notes

In entomological contexts, 'carnivore' is broader than 'predator' (which implies live prey capture) and includes scavengers and facultative carrion-feeders. The term contrasts with herbivore, detritivore, and omnivore in trophic classification. Some specialists reserve 'zoophagous' for the precise sense of animal-tissue consumption, using 'carnivore' more loosely for any meat-based diet.