Carnivores

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Carnivores

Group of Carnivores

Groups

Carnivora is a diverse order that includes over 280 species of placental mammals. Its members are formally referred to as carnivores, whereas the word carnivore can refer to any meat-eating organism. Some carnivorans, such as cats and pinnipeds, depend entirely on meat for their nutrition. Others, such as raccoons and bears, depending on the local habitat, are more omnivorous: the giant panda is almost exclusively a herbivore, but will take fish, eggs and insects, while the polar bear subsists mainly on seals. Carnivorans have teeth and claws adapted for catching and eating other animals. Many hunt in packs and are social animals, giving them an advantage over larger prey.