A carnivore is an animal that feeds primarily on other animals. Lions, wolves, hawks, and sharks are familiar examples. The term comes from the Latin caro, meaning flesh, and vorare, meaning to devour. Carnivores sit at the top of food chains, though some also eat plants. Their bodies reflect their diet. Sharp teeth for tearing, strong jaws, forward-facing eyes for depth perception, and digestive systems built for protein and fat rather than fiber.

Carnivores play a regulatory role in ecosystems. By hunting herbivores, they keep populations in check and prevent overgrazing. When wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995, they changed the behavior of elk, which spent less time in open valleys. Vegetation recovered along streams, and beaver and songbird populations increased. That cascade is one of the best-documented examples of how predators shape entire landscapes.

Types of carnivores

• Obligate carnivores: rely entirely on animal flesh.
• Facultative carnivores: eat meat but also plant matter.
• Apex predators: at the top of the food chain.
• Scavengers: eat dead animals rather than hunting.

Carnivores are not villains. They are part of the balance. Removing them often causes more problems than it solves.