An animal that feeds primarily on other animals, obtaining nutrients and energy from meat. These predators have specialized teeth, claws, and digestive systems adapted for hunting, killing, and processing animal tissue.
From Latin 'caro' (stem 'carn-') meaning flesh or meat and 'vorare' meaning to devour. The term entered scientific vocabulary in 1851 as part of the systematic classification of animals based on their feeding behaviors and ecological roles.
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