What do we call carnivores that feed on primary consumers?

The term used to describe carnivores that feed on primary consumers is secondary consumers. In an ecological food chain or food web, primary consumers are usually herbivores that directly consume autotrophs (plants). Secondary consumers, on the other hand, are the organisms that eat these herbivores. This position in the food chain allows secondary consumers to obtain energy by preying on primary consumers. For example, a snake that eats a rabbit would be classified as a secondary consumer, since the rabbit is the primary consumer that feeds on plants.

Understanding the roles of different consumers in an ecosystem is key for grasping concepts in ecology, such as energy flow and trophic levels. Each level of the food chain relies on the level below it for energy transfer, highlighting the interconnectedness of organisms within an ecosystem.