Carnivores, 9 (-FEL
Carnivore, any member of the mammalian order Carnivora (literally, “flesh devourers” in Latin), comprising more than 270 species. In a more general sense, a carnivore is any animal (or plant; see carnivorous plant) that eats other animals, as opposed to a herbivore, which eats plants. Although the species classified in this order are basically meat eaters, a substantial number of them, especially among bears and members of the raccoon family, also feed extensively on vegetation and are thus actually omnivorous.
Carnivores Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Cats are among the most beloved pet animals in the world. Second only to dogs as the most common pet of choice,......
aardwolf, (Proteles cristatus), insectivorous carnivore that resembles a small striped hyena. The shy, mainly nocturnal......
Abyssinian, breed of domestic cat, probably of Egyptian origin, that has been considered to approximate the sacred......
affenpinscher, breed of toy dog known since the 17th century. It is thought to have originated in Germany, where......
Afghan hound, breed of dog developed as a hunter in the hill country of Afghanistan. It was once thought to have......
African wild dog, (Lycaon pictus), wild African carnivore that differs from the rest of the members of the dog......
African wildcat, (Felis silvestris libyca), small, tabbylike cat (family Felidae) found in open and forested regions......
Airedale Terrier, the largest of the terriers, called the “King of Terriers,” probably descended from the otterhound......
Akita, breed of working dog that originated in the mountains of northern Japan. In 1931 the Japanese government......
Alaskan Malamute, sled dog developed by the Malemiut people of Alaska, from whom it takes its name. The Alaskan......
American Bully, breed of muscular companion dog (in contrast to a working dog) created in the United States in......
American Staffordshire Terrier, breed of dog, originally called Staffordshire Terrier when registered with the......
American water spaniel, breed of sporting dog originating in the United States in the late 1800s, bred to retrieve......
Arctic fox, (Vulpes lagopus), northern fox of the family Canidae, found throughout the Arctic region, usually on......
Asiatic black bear, (Ursus thibetanus), member of the bear family (Ursidae) found from southern Iran to the Himalayas,......
Asiatic lion, (subspecies Panthera leo leo), population of lions whose geographic range once extended from Turkey......
Australian Cattle Dog, breed of herding dog developed in the 19th century to work with cattle in the demanding......
Australian Shepherd, breed of herding dog that, despite its name, was developed in the western United States in......
Australian terrier, breed of dog that originated as an Australian farm dog. First exhibited in 1885 as the Australian......
badger, common name for any of several stout carnivores, most of them members of the weasel family (Mustelidae),......
What is unique about the Baikal seal’s habitat? The Baikal seal is the only living seal that exclusively inhabits......
Basenji, ancient breed of hound native to Central Africa, where it has historically lived as a village dog (one......
Basset Hound, breed of dog developed centuries ago in France and long maintained, chiefly in France and Belgium,......
bat-eared fox, (species Otocyon megalotis), large-eared fox, belonging to the dog family (Canidae), found in open,......
Beagle, small hound dog breed popular as both a pet and a hunter. It looks like a small foxhound and has large......
bear, (family Ursidae), any of eight species of large short-tailed carnivores found in the Americas, Europe, and......
bearded collie, dog breed developed in Great Britain for herding sheep and driving cattle to market; it is one......
bearded seal, (Erignathus barbatus), nonmigratory seal of the family Phocidae, distinguished by the bushy, bristly......
Bedlington terrier, breed of dog developed in the 1800s in Northumberland, England, and named for Bedlingtonshire,......
Belgian Malinois, breed of herding and working dog developed in the Malines area of Belgium in the 1800s. The Belgian......
Belgian sheepdog, working dog developed in the village of Groenendaal, Belgium, in 1885. A long-haired black dog,......
Bengal tiger, (subspecies Panthera tigris tigris), subspecies of tiger (Pantheria tigris) inhabiting the hot and......
Bernese Mountain Dog, breed of Swiss working dog taken to Switzerland more than 2,000 years ago by invading Romans.......
Bichon Frise, breed of small dog noted for its fluffy coat and cheerful disposition. For many centuries it was......
binturong, (Arctictis binturong), catlike omnivore of the civet family (Viverridae), found in dense forests of......
black bear, (Ursus americanus), the most common bear (family Ursidae), found in the forests of North America, including......
black panther, colloquial term used to refer to large felines classified in the genus Panthera that are characterized......
Bloodhound, ancient breed of dog and likely the oldest breed of hound that hunts by scent. Its scenting ability......
bobcat, (Lynx rufus), bobtailed North American cat (family Felidae), found from southern Canada to southern Mexico.......
Border Collie, breed of herding dog, typically an outstanding sheepdog, which has been used along the English-Scottish......
border terrier, breed of terrier developed in the border country of England and Scotland to hunt and kill foxes......
Borzoi, breed of large hound developed in Russia to pursue wolves. It is descended from the Arabian Greyhound and......
Boston Terrier, breed of dog developed in the latter half of the 19th century in Boston. Bred from the English......
bouvier des Flandres, cattle-driving dog noted for its working ability. The breed originated in southwestern Flanders......
Boxer, smooth-haired working dog breed named for its manner of “boxing” with its sturdy front paws when fighting.......
briard, French sheepdog breed mentioned in French records of the 12th century and depicted in medieval French tapestries.......
Brittany, breed of sporting dog that points and retrieves game; although it was formerly called the Brittany spaniel,......
brown bear, (Ursus arctos), shaggy-haired bear (family Ursidae) native to Europe, Asia, and northwestern North......
Brussels griffon, breed of toy dog developed in late 19th-century Belgium from the affenpinscher and an ordinary......
Bull Terrier, breed of dog developed in 19th-century England from the Bulldog, the White English Terrier (a breed......
Bulldog, breed of dog developed centuries ago in England for use in fighting bulls (bullbaiting). Characteristically......
Burmese, breed of domestic cat, presumably of Asian origin. The Burmese is a compactly built cat with a small,......
bush dog, (Speothos venaticus), small stocky carnivore of the family Canidae found in the forests and savannas......
cacomistle, (Bassariscus), either of two species of large-eyed, long-tailed carnivores related to the raccoon (family......
cairn terrier, working terrier breed developed in Scotland to rout vermin from cairns (rock piles). The modern......
calico cat, In North America, a blotched or spotted domestic cat, usually predominantly white with red and black......
Canaan dog, breed of herding dog developed in Israel in the 20th century from semiwild pariah dogs that were the......
Cane Corso, breed of mastiff dog descended from Molossian war dogs of ancient Rome and subsequently bred in Italy......
canine, (family Canidae), any of 36 living species of foxes, wolves, jackals, and other members of the dog family.......
caracal, (Caracal caracal), short-tailed cat (family Felidae) found in hills, deserts, and plains of Africa, the......
carnivore, any member of the mammalian order Carnivora (literally, “flesh devourers” in Latin), comprising more......
cat, (Felis catus), domesticated member (felid) of the family Felidae. The family is generally divided between......
Cats are second only to dogs as the most common pets in the world. Their association with humans goes back thousands......
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, breed of toy dog developed from the English Toy Spaniel in the early 1900s. The......
cave bear, either of two extinct bear species, Ursus spelaeus and U. deningeri, notable for their habit of inhabiting......
cheetah, (Acinonyx jubatus), one of the world’s most-recognizable cats, known especially for its speed. Cheetahs’......
Chesapeake Bay retriever, breed of sporting dog, developed in the United States in the 19th century to retrieve......
Chihuahua dog, smallest recognized dog breed, named for the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where it was first noted......
Chinese crested, breed of toy dog of ancient ancestry; it is one of the hairless breeds, its coat being confined......
Chinese Shar-Pei, breed of dog noted for its loose skin and wrinkles. Once considered to be among the rarest dog......
Chow Chow, breed of dog that differs from most others in having a blue-black tongue. The breed originated in China......
civet, any of a number of long-bodied, short-legged carnivores of the family Viverridae. There are about 15 to......
clouded leopard, strikingly marked cat, very similar in colouring and coat pattern to the smaller, unrelated marbled......
Clumber spaniel, breed of sporting dog, the heaviest of the spaniel family, said to have originated in France before......
coati, (genus Nasua), any of three species of omnivore related to raccoons (family Procyonidae). Coatis are found......
cocker spaniel, either of two breeds of sporting dogs used by hunters to flush game birds from cover; it is also......
collie, working dog breed developed in Great Britain, probably by the 18th century. There are two varieties of......
coonhound, any of several breeds of dogs used primarily in hunting raccoons by scent. Coonhounds are noted for......
coydog, hybrid of the domestic dog with the coyote...
coyote, (Canis latrans), New World member of the dog family (Canidae) that is smaller and more lightly built than......
crab-eating fox, (Cerdocyon thous), South American member of the dog family (Canidae), found in grassy or forested......
crabeater seal, (species Lobodon carcinophagus), southern seal of the family Phocidae found among drifting ice......
curly-coated retriever, breed of sporting dog bred and trained to retrieve game both on land and in the water.......
Dachshund, dog breed of hound and terrier ancestry developed in Germany to pursue badgers into their burrows. The......
Dalmatian, dog breed named after the Adriatic coastal region of Dalmatia, Croatia, its first definite home. The......
Dandie Dinmont terrier, breed of terrier developed in the border country of England and Scotland. First noted as......
dhole, (Cuon alpinus), wild Asian carnivore of the dog family (Canidae), found in central and southeastern wooded......
dingo, (Canis lupus dingo, Canis dingo), member of the family Canidae native to Australia. Most authorities regard......
dire wolf, (Aenocyon dirus), canine that existed during the Pleistocene Epoch (2.6 million to 11,700 years ago).......
Doberman Pinscher, breed of working dog developed in Apolda, Germany, by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann, a tax......
dog, (Canis lupus familiaris), domestic mammal of the family Canidae (order Carnivora). It is a subspecies of the......
Dogo Argentino, breed of working dog created in Argentina in the 1920s as a pack-hunting, big-game hunter. The......
domestic shorthair, breed of domestic cat often referred to as a common, or alley, cat; a good show animal, however,......
elephant seal, either of the two largest pinnipeds (aquatic mammals of the suborder Pinnipedia): the northern elephant......
Enaliarctos, extinct genus of mammals that contains the oldest known member of Pinnipedia, the group that contains......
English setter, breed of sporting dog that has served as a gun dog in England for more than 400 years and has been......
English toy spaniel, breed of dog known in Britain since Tudor times but that apparently originated in ancient......
ermine, (Mustela erminea), northern weasel species in the genus Mustela, family Mustelidae. The species is called......
Eskimo dog, breed of sled and hunting dog found near the Arctic Circle. It is believed by some authorities to be......
feline, (family Felidae), any of 37 cat species that among others include the cheetah, puma, jaguar, leopard, lion,......