Vad definierar ett rovdjur?

Rovdjuren (Carnivora) är en ordning i klassen däggdjur. Ordet "rovdjur" kan även användas i betydelserna köttätare och predator.

Det vetenskapliga namnet Carnivora är sammansatt av de latinska orden caro, carnis (kött) och voro (sluka). Namnet betyder alltså köttätare. Trots det är ett stort antal arter i denna ordning allätare som förutom kött även äter bär, gräs och andra växtämnen. En art, pandan, äter uteslutande vegetabilisk föda.

1. An organism that lives by preying on other organisms.
2. One that victimizes, plunders, or destroys, especially for one's own gain.
[Latin praedtor, pillager, from praedr, to plunder; see predatory.]

In ecology, predation describes a biological interaction where a predator (an organism that is hunting) feeds on its prey (the organism that is attacked).[1] Predators may or may not kill their prey prior to feeding on them, but the act of predation always results in the death of its prey and the eventual absorption of the prey's tissue through consumption.[2]
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Functional classification

Classification of predators by the extent to which they feed on and interact with their prey is one way ecologists may wish to categorize the different types of predation. Instead of focusing on what they eat, this system classifies predators by the way in which they eat, and the general nature of the interaction between predator and prey species. Two factors are considered here: How close the predator and prey are physically (in the latter two cases the term prey may be replaced with host). Additionally, whether or not the prey are directly killed by the predator is considered, with true predation and parasitoidism involving certain death.
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Many organisms (of which humans are prime examples) eat from multiple levels of the food chain and thus make this classification problematic

carnivora
predator

Carnivorans are primarily terrestrial and usually have strong sharp claws, with never fewer than four toes on each foot, and well-developed, prominent canine teeth, cheek teeth (premolars and molars) that generally have cutting edges. The last premolar of the upper jaw and first molar of the lower are termed the carnassials or sectorial teeth. These are blade-like teeth that occlude (close) with a scissor-like action for shearing and shredding meat. Carnassials are most highly developed in the Felidae and the least developed in the Ursidae. Carnivorans have six incisors and two conical canines in each jaw.