eli5: Why are herbivorous animals usually fatter/bigger than carnivorous animals?

Question

eli5: Why are herbivorous animals usually fatter/bigger than carnivorous animals?

In: 119

Answer 1

Carnivore diets are not very efficient. Basically, nutrients -> plants -> herbivores-> carnivores, and a lot is wasted at each step. The larger you get the more you need to eat. Elephants can get to their size because there is enough vegetation to support them. But there really aren’t any modern ecosystems that have enough prey for a carnivore to get that size.