There are eight families of terrestrial (land-dwelling) carnivores and three families of aquatic (water-based) carnivores.

Carnivores are animals that obtain most of their nutrition from eating other animals, and their name comes from a combination of Latin words that literally mean 'flesh devourers.' Carnivores are always at the top levels of every food chain. While predators are solely or largely dependent on their prey for survival, preys aren’t dependent on the former at all.The term carnivore is thought by many to refer to any meat-eating organism, but in the life sciences it is applied to a certain family of mammals (Carnivora) that have specially shaped teeth and live by hunting.For instance, a bear eats fruits, berries, honey, and fish, whereas preys are always herbivorous. Predators are carnivorous, but certain animals are omnivorous.In contrast, preys aren’t as big or strong as their predators. Predators aren’t always bigger than the animals they prey upon but are more powerful.However, preys have a dental constitution that is more suited to chewing grass or anything that is not difficult to be torn apart.

Predators have a sharp and sturdy dental constitution to help them tear their prey apart.On the other hand, Prey is the section of animals that are built to be preyed upon by other animals. Predators are the section of animals that kill other animals to survive and do not feast on grass or leaves.Main Differences Between Predator and Prey Though weak, these animals are also great at camouflaging or confusing their predators with their features.įor instance, a zebra is found in regions with scanty trees and shrubbery, making it tough for it to hide, but its black and white stripes are of such a pattern that when a zebra runs at great speed, it can even confuse a predator such as a lion, thereby, allowing it to escape not with ease though. Its gigantism makes it extremely difficult for it to move fast, at least fast enough to save itself from the grips of a cheetah. For instance, an elephant is much bigger than a cheetah and more powerful than it, yet it surrounds by two or three cheetahs.Īn elephant can easily fall prey to them. Sometimes these animals are bigger than their hunters but weaker. However, certain carnivorous animals eat grass when facing stomach problems but are certainly not omnivorous.

They are often bigger than their prey and more agile. These animals are generally of a sturdy constituency, coupled with a strong set of jaws and sharp dental constitution to help them tear their prey apart. Comparison Table Parameters of Comparison Predator Prey Meaning The section of animals that are built to prey on other animals The section of animals that are built to be preyed upon by other animals Dental Constitution They have a sharp and sturdy dental constitution to help them tear their prey apart They have a dental constitution that is more suited to chewing grass or anything that is not difficult to be torn apart Size They aren’t always bigger than the animals they prey upon but are more powerful Sometimes these animals are bigger than their hunters but weaker Food Chain Stages They constitute the last or stage nearing the end of the chain They come before the predators Dependency They are solely or largely dependent on their prey for survival They aren’t dependent on the predators at all What is Predator?Ī predator can be defined as a section of animals that is built to prey on other animals. These animals are generally of a sturdy yet weaker constituency, coupled with a dental constitution that is more suited to chewing grass or anything that is not difficult to be torn apart.

Predator meat vs prey meat