What Is a Predator?
Science · Life Science and Biology · Grades 2–5
Meaning at a glance
A predator is an animal that hunts and eats other animals.
Also searched as: predators, prey, predator and prey, hunter animals.
Understand it simply
The animal a predator hunts is called its prey. An owl is a predator and a mouse is its prey. A lion is a predator and a zebra is its prey.
Predators have adaptations that help them hunt, such as sharp claws, strong jaws or fast legs. Prey animals have adaptations too, such as speed, camouflage or good hearing.
See it work
Grass is eaten by a grasshopper. The grasshopper is eaten by a frog. The frog is eaten by a snake. The frog is a predator of the grasshopper, but it is also prey for the snake.
Avoid this confusion
An animal can be a predator and prey at the same time. It depends which link of the food chain you look at.
Predator does not mean dangerous to people. It only means the animal hunts other animals for food.
Try it yourself
Work these out first, then check your answers below.
A hawk catches a mouse. Which animal is the predator?
In the chain grass, grasshopper, frog, snake, which animals are prey?
Can an animal be both a predator and prey?
Check your understanding
Show the answer to question 1
Answer: The hawk
The hawk hunts and eats the mouse.
Show the answer to question 2
Answer: Grasshopper and frog
Each is eaten by the next animal. Grass is a plant, not an animal.
Show the answer to question 3
Answer: Yes.
A frog hunts insects, and a snake hunts the frog.
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You now know what predator means. Keep going with a full lesson, then explore the ideas that connect to it.
Learn
Learn this in a full lesson.
- Animal survival needs (Grade 2)
- Simple food chains (Grade 3)
- Food chains (Grade 4)
Practise
Practise with Learning Lab questions for the lesson Animal survival needs (Grade 2), with an explanation after each answer.
Explore
Ideas that connect to this word.
- Food chain: predators and prey are linked in a food chain.
- Adaptation: predators and prey have adaptations.
- Habitat: predators and prey live together in a habitat.
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Sources and review
This explanation was written from Courseversity lesson content (see the lessons above). An outside reference check is still on the editorial to-do list.
Written by: Courseversity editorial team (AI-assisted draft).
Review status: checked against the sources above. Educator review is pending, so please tell us if anything looks wrong.
Last updated: 27 October 2026.