cannibalism

[shmolex]

Is it common for animals to hunt and eat other animals of their own species?

[Khaiy]

It depends on the animal. In some species yes, and in others no.

[Linn]

ya,
its gross,
but I saw a documentary where male
chimpanzies eat baby chimps.

[kiekyon]

Is it common for animals to hunt and eat other animals of their own species?

from evolutionary perspective, cannibalism makes perfect sense. Two members of the same species fight, the less-fit member dies and serves to feed the more-fit. This prevents the lesser fit from propogating further, and provides the better fit with a food source.

"The Argentine horned frog will eat anything smaller than itself, including other Argentine horned frogs. Some even choke to death trying to consume another frog that's just a little too big. More than 1,300 species of animals will eat one of their own kind -- alive. It is especially common in dense populations when food is scarce. Male lions -- and barn cats -- may kill and eat the cubs of another male to bring females into heat. The female redback spider will devour a male after mating for more nourishment to bear her young.

Cannibalism occurs in some species in most major groups of animals that have been studied in detail. These include non-vertebrate animals such as protozoans, clams and snails, insects, crabs and spiders. It also occurs in most chordates including ascidians, sharks and rays, fishes, amphibians (very common in this group), reptiles and mammals. What seems to be most important is that the organism be a heterotroph (eats other organisms), most often a carnivore or omnivore, and that there be a lot of size variation because usually smaller individuals are eaten by larger....

In animals, cannibalism often is largely the same as predation. One animal eats another. The problem we have with it is one that arises when we think of it in a human context. Certainly, most humans do not view cannibalism as acceptable, and particularly find the eating of one's own young or of young in general, abhorrent. This is a human perspective that comes with our ability to think, and with our cultural values. In some human cultures, cannibalism was apparent less problematic than in ours.

[David George]

Cannibalism can occur when there is severe shortage of food and so the organisms are forced to eat there fellow mates.I read that some people who survived a plane crash in the Andes ate the humans who died in the plane crash and they were saved by rescue men later.

[Linn]

Cannibalism can occur when there is severe shortage of food and so the organisms are forced to eat there fellow mates.I read that some people who survived a plane crash in the Andes ate the humans who died in the plane crash and they were saved by rescue men later.

ah yes,
the human animal has been known to do that hah
But Male chimps do it for mating I believe.

An every once in a while they need some meat

David,
what does chimpanzies diet consist of?
I think mostly vegetation, fruit??

[kiekyon]

The fore Fore-people in New Guinea, an isolated, primitive peoples engaged in a ritualistic, cannibal rite following death. This causes kuru, a disease caused by prion.

[swatkat]

Linn
male chimps exhibit cannibalism for mating?
are cannibalism and mating related?

[Linn]

Linn
male chimps exhibit cannibalism for mating?
are cannibalism and mating related?

they kill offspring that are not theirs.
so the female will come into esterus, (did I say/spell that right?)
and they can mate with her to produce offspring that is theirs

~National Geographic Explorer

PS: guess they might as well eat the meat while their at it
why I said: gross

I wish we had more smile faces to express "gross"

[i_r_e_d]

This isn't cannibalism but the Aztecs were famous throughout Mexico for ripping the skin off of a victim (while they were alive) and "dressing" themselves inside of the skin... Then dancing until the skin was torn off of the dancer... Pretty cool huh? And there was a rugby team that crash landed their airplane in the alps, after they started dying off they told eachother "if i die, eat me, so that you could live". I've never been that hungry so I dont know if i could do that to my best friend...

[Poison]

Linn
male chimps exhibit cannibalism for mating?
are cannibalism and mating related?

Not always, I think. If you have a look at Hexapoda (Insecta), you can see cannibalism in some groups. The first that comes to my mind is Collembola.

[Linn]

Linn
male chimps exhibit cannibalism for mating?
are cannibalism and mating related?

Not always, I think. If you have a look at Hexapoda (Insecta), you can see cannibalism in some groups. The first that comes to my mind is Collembola.

I did'nt know that about collembola.

And of course some spiders, and praying mantis:)