What do we call animals that kill and eat other animals?

Animals that kill and eat other animals are classified as predators. This term specifically refers to species that hunt, capture, and consume prey as their primary source of food. Predators play a vital role in ecosystems, helping to maintain population control of other species, which contributes to a balanced food web.

Herbivores, on the other hand, consume only plant material. Omnivores are those animals that eat both plants and other animals, but they do not specialize in hunting other animals. Scavengers are a different category, as they primarily feed on dead organisms rather than actively hunting living prey. Thus, the definition of predators as active hunters sets them apart from these other groups.