Which types of consumers can be categorized as tertiary consumers?

Tertiary consumers are primarily defined as organisms that occupy the top tier in a food chain or ecological pyramid, consuming secondary consumers and sometimes even primary consumers. These consumers are often carnivores, which means they primarily feed on other animals, but they can also include omnivores, which have a broader diet that consists of both plant and animal matter.

Since tertiary consumers can include both carnivorous animals that hunt other animals and omnivorous species that may eat both plants and animals, the correct categorization encompasses both these types. This flexibility in diet makes it possible for omnivores to occupy the tertiary level when they consume secondary consumers. Thus, the inclusion of both carnivores and omnivores in the definition of tertiary consumers relates directly to their roles in the food web and their ability to influence population dynamics within an ecosystem.