Hypercarnivory

Hypercarnivory is a dietary strategy in which an animal derives the majority of its energy and nutrients from animal tissue, rather than plants or other non-meat foods. In studies of carnivoran mammals, hypercarnivory is often defined as a diet consisting of more than about 70 percent meat by weight or caloric value; diets with 30 to 70 percent meat are called mesocarnivorous, and diets with less than about 30 percent meat are hypocarnivorous.

Anatomical and physiological adaptations associated with hypercarnivory include elongated canines and well-developed carnassial teeth for slicing flesh, strong jaw muscles, and a skull capable of delivering high bite forces. Digestive systems tend to be relatively short and efficient at processing meat proteins, with high stomach acidity and rapid passage times to optimize energy extraction from animal prey.

Ecologically, hypercarnivores occupy high trophic levels and rely on the availability of animal prey that can meet high energy demands. Their specialization can promote efficient predation and success when prey is abundant but can reduce dietary flexibility and increase vulnerability to prey declines, competition, or environmental change. In the fossil record, extreme hypercarnivory is inferred from dental and skeletal features, as seen in saber-toothed cats, among others.

Modern exemplars include many feline species, with polar bears and some pinnipeds cited as highly carnivorous; however, the degree of specialization varies among lineages and populations.