Dictionary > Carnivorous diet

Carnivorous diet

Definition
noun
A type of diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal meat or tissues
Supplement
A carnivorous diet is a type of diet that includes animal flesh or meat, such as poultry, fish, seafood, beef, pork and eggs. Organisms that prefer carnivorous diet are called carnivores. They derive their energy and nutrition mainly or exclusively from animals (through predation or scavenging) rather than on other food types such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and dairy food.
Carnivorous diets may be classified according to the kind of animals included in the diet. For example, a diet consisting mainly of insects is called an insectivorous diet. Another is the piscivorous diet wherein the diet primarily consists of fish.
Another classification of carnivorous diets is based on the percentage of meat in their diet:

Animals that partake a carnivorous diet include tigers, lions, frogs, cats, alligators, crocodiles, hyenas, falcons, civets, coyotes, dingos, foxes, jackals, wolves, weasels, skunks, raccoons, otters, ocelots, mongooses, lynxes, leopards, jaguars, etc. These animals need animal meat for their survival. They require a high protein diet, which can be met through consuming animal tissues. Although they may eat a very small amount of plant tissues, they are not fully physiologically equipped to digest plenty of plant tissues or vegetation unlike herbivores (and ominivores) that are.
See also:

Related term(s):

  • carnivore
  • carnivorous


  • You will also like...

    Growth and Plant Hormones
    Growth and Plant Hormones

    Plants, like animals, produce hormones to regulate plant activities, including growth. They need these hormones to respo..

    Physiological Homeostasis
    Physiological Homeostasis

    Homeostasis is essential to maintain conditions within the tolerable limits. Otherwise, the body will fail to function p..

    Evolution of Life - Ancient Earth
    Evolution of Life – Ancient Earth

    Autotrophs flourished, absorbing carbon and light. Soon after, primitive life forms that could assimilate oxygen thrived..

    Cells in different stages of meiosis
    Meiosis – The Genetics of Reproduction

    Meiosis is a form of cell division that creates gametes. It is comprised of two divisions that in the end, the resulting..

    Biological Cell Defense
    Biological Cell Defense

    Organisms employ different strategies to boost its defenses against antigens. Humans have an immune system to combat pat..

    Muscle
    Muscle

    Muscle cells are specialized to generate force and movement. Learn about the different types of muscle tissues in this t..