In zoology,
cannibalism
is the act of one individual of a species consuming all or part of
another individual of the same species as food. Cannibalism is a common
interaction in the animal kingdom and has been recorded for more than 1500 species.
It does not, as once believed, occur only as a result of extreme food
shortages or artificial conditions, but commonly occurs under natural
conditions in a variety of species.
Cannibalism seems to be especially prevalent in aquatic communities, in
which up to approximately 90% of the organisms engage in cannibalism at
some point of the life cycle. Cannibalism is also not restricted to
carnivorous species, but is commonly found in herbivores and detritivores.
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| Photo by Karen Bacon/Solent - LINK |
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| Photo credit: Piet Heymans/Noble/Draper - LINK |
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