Carnivore

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 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

• Herbivore
• Omnivores