Cannibalism
- Pronunciation
- /kan-ih-bal-izm/
- Category
- Behavior
- Singular
- Cannibalism
- Plural
- Cannibalisms
Definition
The act of an organism consuming another individual of its own species.
Etymology
From Spanish 'caníbal', from Taíno 'Caniba', referring to the Carib people who were believed to practice cannibalism.
Example
Cannibalism is a common behavior observed in many insect species, particularly when food resources are scarce.
Related Terms
- Intraspecific predation
- Food scarcity
- Population regulation
Usage Notes
Cannibalism can be influenced by factors such as density, resource availability, and individual aggression.