Although Little Red Riding Hood didn't know much about menacing forest creatures, she sure got an eyeful upon arriving at Grandma's house. After remarking what big teeth her "grandmother" had, she quickly learned one of the easiest ways to spot a carnivore.

Big, sharp teeth can help differentiate those fond of flesh from leaf-loving animals. But unlike their fairy tale counterparts, wolves and other carnivores probably wouldn't choose humans as an entree (however, that doesn't totally eliminate Homo sapiens from the menu).

Carnivores have such toothy smiles and powerful jaws in order to bring down large animals. A carnivore's enlarged fourth upper premolar and lower first molar combine to create the carnassial pair -- a lethal combination that would make any dentist cringe.

Carnivores lurk all around us -- by land, air and sea. Birds of prey rely on keen eyesight to spot targets, talons to snatch unsuspecting prey and curved beaks to tear meat. Marine meat-eaters, like seals, have streamlined bodies that propel them through water at dizzying speeds to catch seafood.

But before you judge carnivores as bullies with an orthodontia problem, keep in mind these predators actually help their prey. By picking off and killing weak, sick or old animals, carnivores help strengthen the health of the prey population. Carnivores also keep the local ecosystem in check by preventing herbivorous species from overpopulating an area. If there are too many deer, they'll spend most of their time eating, and this overgrazing could deplete plant life. Since deer can't stop by the grocery store to pick up extra lettuce, they'll eventually wipe out their food source and may starve to death.

For a closer -- but not too close -- look at carnivores of all shapes and sizes, keep your eyes peeled for meat-eaters lurking among the pages of HowStuffWorks.