Biology Forum Zoology Discussion cannibalism

last updated by Linn 18 years ago
8 voices
16 replies
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    • #4498
      shmolex
      Participant

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

    • #46713
      Khaiy
      Participant

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

    • #46717
      Linn
      Participant

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

    • #46721
      kiekyon
      Participant
      quote shmolex:

      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.

    • #46741
      David George
      Participant

      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.

    • #46746
      Linn
      Participant
      quote 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.

      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??

    • #46758
      kiekyon
      Participant

      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.
      😡

    • #46765
      swatkat
      Participant

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

    • #46773
      Linn
      Participant
      quote swatkat:

      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"

    • #46839
      i_r_e_d
      Participant

      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…

    • #46899
      Poison
      Participant
      quote swatkat:

      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.

    • #47117
      Linn
      Participant
      quote Poison:

      quote swatkat:

      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:)

    • #47234
      swatkat
      Participant

      Linn
      r u a veggie?
      i can imagine what u mean by gross

    • #47237
      Linn
      Participant
      quote swatkat:

      Linn
      r u a veggie?
      i can imagine what u mean by gross

      Heck no I love rib eye steak! LOL

      YOU dont think that its a bit gross for a chimpanzie to eat a baby chimp? ❓ 😯 😯

    • #47240
      swatkat
      Participant

      plz….
      i am a veggie 😆
      i think its ok
      gross
      but not that surprising 🙂

    • #47260
      Poison
      Participant
      quote Linn:

      I did’nt know that about collembola.

      And of course some spiders, and praying mantis:)

      Arachnida’s (Spider) cannibalism is a bit mating related, you know male eaten by female after (even during) mating. Sounds interesting to apply. 😈 😆

    • #47277
      Linn
      Participant
      quote Poison:

      quote Linn:

      I did’nt know that about collembola.

      And of course some spiders, and praying mantis:)

      Arachnida’s (Spider) cannibalism is a bit mating related, you know male eaten by female after (even during) mating. Sounds interesting to apply. 😈 😆

      you said it 😆 😆

      I just thought it : 👿

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