Carnivores

Definition of Carnivores

Organisms that depend only on flesh or meat of other organisms for their nutrition.

For Example:
Carnivorous animals: Tiger, crocodile, shark, cheetah
Carnivorous plants: Pitcher plant, Venus fly trap, Sundew

There are carnivorous animals as well as carnivorous plants
Carnivorous plants (insectivorous plants) absorb nitrogen from their animal prey (mostly invertebrates, occasionally even small frogs and mammals) through their leaves specially modified as traps

The carnivores are one among the important members of the ecosystem
They form the third level in the food chain after herbivores
They control or check the population of herbivore species from getting overpopulated
Carnivores are predators and catch prey
Carnivores that feed on insects are called insectivore whereas that feeding on fishes are called piscivores
The eyesight of carnivorous birds such as Eagle, hawks and owls are very well developed to spot the prey
Some carnivores eat all the parts of the bodies of the prey, while some choose, blood, skin, flesh,etc
The teeth of carnivorous animals are specially designed for holding and tearing the flesh of the prey
These specialized teeth are known as carnassials
The digestive system of carnivores are comparatively short than that of herbivores
This is because their diet has very less cellulose or lack it altogether

Which among the following is not a carnivorous plant?

a) Pitcher plant
b) Sundew
c) Eichornia
d) Venus flytrap

Solution: C. Eichornia is not a carnivorous plant

2) The digestive tract of Herbivores is short when compared to that of carnivores

a) True
b) False

Solution: b) The digestive system of herbivore is long when compared to that of carnivores

3) Carnivores and Herbivores are ____ of an ecosystem

a) Producers
b) Consumers
c) Predators
d) Abiotic factors

Solution: (b)The carnivores and herbivores are the consumers of an ecosystem

4) Which among the following are secondary consumers?

a) Herbivores
b) Carnivores
c) Both A and B
d) Neither A nor B

Solution: (b) The carnivores are the secondary consumers in any ecosystem

5) Which among the following is not a carnivore?

a) Shark
b) Sunflower
c) Sundew
d) Crocodile

Solution: (b) is not a carnivore, it belongs to producers