Difference between revisions of "Carnivore"
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| − | '''Carnivore''' has two different meanings. In ordinary language, it means an animal that eats | + | '''Carnivore''' has two different meanings. In ordinary language, it means an animal that only eats other animals<ref>Wile, Dr. Jay L. ''Exploring Creation Through General Science''. Anderson: Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 2000</ref>, 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 | + | To a zoologist, ''carnivore'' usually means "a [[mammal]] belonging to the order ''carnivora.''" This includes [[cat]]s and "cat-like" families such as [[mongoose]s and [[hyena]]s, and [[dog]s and "dog-like" families such as [[bear]]s, [[skunk]]s, [[weasel]]s, [[raccoon]]s, and [[seal]]s. 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 koala 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." | + | A trick question for someone who knows [[biology]] is: "If a [[panda]] is a carnivore, then what is a [[koala]]?" Because a koala 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." |
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 14:02, May 25, 2007
Carnivore has two different meanings. In ordinary language, it means an animal that only eats other animals[1], 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 [[mongoose]s and hyenas, and [[dog]s 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 koala 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."
See also
References
- ↑ Wile, Dr. Jay L. Exploring Creation Through General Science. Anderson: Apologia Educational Ministries, Inc. 2000