Carnivoras

Carnivoras is a term used to describe carnivorous plants, a diverse group of flowering plants that obtain essential nutrients by trapping and digesting animal prey, typically insects and other small organisms. They commonly inhabit nutrient-poor soils in bogs, wetlands, savannas, and tropical forests, where nitrogen and phosphorus are scarce. To supplement photosynthesis, they have evolved specialized trapping structures vulnerable to prey: pitfall traps in temperate and tropical pitcher plants (Nepenthes, Sarracenia, Cephalotus), snap traps in the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) and related species (Aldrovanda), sticky flypaper traps in sundews (Drosera) and butterworts (Pinguicula), and suction traps in bladderworts (Utricularia). These traps lure, capture, and retain prey, enabling digestion by a combination of plant enzymes and, in some cases, symbiotic microorganisms.

Digestive processes release nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus absorbed through the plant’s tissues, supporting growth in nutrient-poor environments. While photosynthesis remains the primary energy source, carnivorous plants rely on captured prey for essential minerals rather than carbon.

Distribution varies widely by genus, with temperate carnivorous flora in North America and Europe, and tropical lineages in Asia, Africa, and South America. Many species grow in protected habitats and are sensitive to habitat disturbance.

Cultivation is popular in horticulture, requiring bright light, acidic soil mixes with low mineral content, ample humidity, and, for some species, a period of dormancy. Conservation concerns include habitat loss, peat extraction, and over-collection, prompting protective regulations in several regions.