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Line 1: − A consumer that eats only other consumers.<ref>Wile, Dr. Jay L. ''Exploring Creation Through General Science''. Anderson: Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. + + + + + + +
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'''Carnivore''' has two different meanings. In ordinary language, it means an animal that eats only, or mainly, other animals, as contrasted with an ''herbivore'' (plant-eater) or ''omnivore'' (animal for whom both plants and animals are regular and important parts of the diet).
To a zoologist, ''carnivore'' usually means "a mammal belonging to the order ''carnivora.''" This includes cats and "cat-like" families such as mongooses and hyenas, and dogs and "dog-like" families such as bears, skunks, weasels, raccoons, and seals. Most members of the order ''carnivora'' actually are carnivores in the sense of being meat-eaters, but there are many carnivorous animals that do ''not'' belong to the order "carnivora."
A trick question for someone who knows biology is: "If a panda is a carnivore, then what is a koala?" Because a panda eats eucalyptus leaves, many people will fall into the trap and answer "herbivore," which is the wrong answer. The trick is that a panda does ''not'' eat meat. So, for a panda to be "a carnivore," the word must be being used in the sense of "order carnivora," and the right answer is "marsupial."
<ref>Wile, Dr. Jay L. ''Exploring Creation Through General Science''. Anderson: Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc.
2000</ref>
2000</ref>