Originally Posted by gwahir
Keep in mind that in this context, "carnivore" is referring to its taxonomic definition, in which case it doesn't mean an animal that exclusively eats meat, but rather refers to species in the order "carnivora." Click on the wiki link in the original article if you don't believe me.Despite its taxonomic classification as a carnivore, the Giant Panda has a diet that is primarily herbivorous, which consists almost exclusively of bamboo. However, the Giant Panda still has the digestive system of a carnivore and does not have the ability to digest cellulose efficiently, and thus derives little energy and little protein from consumption of bamboo. The average Giant Panda eats as much as 9 to 14 kg (20 to 30 pounds) of bamboo shoots a day. Because the Giant Panda consumes a diet low in nutrition, it is important that it keep its digestive tract full. The limited energy input imposed on it by its diet has affected the panda's behavior. The Giant Panda tends to limit its social interactions and avoids steeply sloping terrain in order to limit its energy expenditures.[16]
Or, if you still don't believe me, look at carnivore's disambiguation page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnivore_(disambiguation)
etc.A carnivore is an animal with a diet consisting primarily of meat.
Other uses of Canivore include:
* Carnivora, an order of primarily carnivorous mammals
(Remember, kids, that wikipedia contains all knowledge on earth and is infallible.)
Anyways, because pandas can subsist on both vegetable matter as well as meat, in the dietary sense pandas are omnivorous, not carnivorous.
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