MCQ Detailed View

In the natural world, animals have different ways of obtaining food. Some feed on plants, others consume dead organisms, and some hunt live prey. An animal that captures and readily kills living animals for its food is called a “predator.”

A predator is an organism that hunts, attacks, kills, and consumes other animals (called prey) for survival. This process is known as predation. Predators usually have strong physical adaptations such as sharp teeth, claws, speed, camouflage, keen eyesight, and powerful jaws to help them catch and kill prey efficiently. Examples of predators include lions, tigers, wolves, eagles, crocodiles, and sharks.Predators play a key role in maintaining ecological balance. By controlling the population of prey species, they prevent overgrazing or depletion of plants and resources. This ensures a healthy and stable food chain within an ecosystem.

The other options in the question are not correct:

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  Parasite: Lives on or inside another living organism (host) and derives food from it, often without killing it directly (e.g., lice, tapeworms).

  
  


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  Scavenger: Feeds on dead and decaying animals (e.g., vultures, hyenas).

  
  


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  Mammal: A class of animals that give birth to live young and feed them milk; mammals can be predators, herbivores, or omnivores, but not all are predators.

  
  


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  None of these: Incorrect, as "Predator" is the correct term.

  
  

This MCQ belongs to Biology, under the topic of animal behavior and feeding relationships in ecosystems. Understanding predators helps explain how food chains and food webs work in nature and how energy flows between organisms.