One of the larger orders of placental mammals whose members are modified for feeding on flesh. The order Carnivora (“meat eater”) consists of 12 Recent families, 115 genera, and 280 species that occur naturally throughout the world, except in Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Antarctica, and many oceanic islands. In Australia, the dingo, a domestic dog (Canis familiaris), was introduced by aboriginal humans and the fox was introduced by later inhabitants.