Describing organisms that primarily feed on animal flesh or, in the case of plants, obtain nutrients by trapping and digesting insects or other small animals. Carnivorous plants have evolved this strategy to supplement nutrients in nutrient-poor environments.
From Latin 'caro' meaning 'flesh' and 'vorare' meaning 'to devour.' While long used for meat-eating animals, the term was extended to plants in the 19th century when scientists discovered plants that actively capture and digest insects.
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