Carnivores can be classified into subtypes based on the types of animals on which they feed. Animals that eat a diet that consists of primarily insects are referred to as insectivores, while those that feed on fish are referred to as piscivores.
Carnivores are also described according to the degree to which they rely on meat in their diet and how they obtain it. An obligate carnivore is an animal that cannot sustain its health without meat in its diet. Predators are carnivores that seek out live prey and kill it. Scavengers are carnivores that feed on animals that are already dead.
The term carnivore can also be used in a more specific sense to refer to members of the Order Carnivora which includes animal groups such as cats, wolves, bears, racoons, hyennas, sea lions, seals, civits and badgers.
