malacophagy
- Pronunciation
- /mal-uh-KOF-uh-jee/
- Category
- Behavior
- Singular
- malacophagy
- Plural
- malacophagies
Definition
The act or habit of feeding on mollusks, such as snails and slugs.
Etymology
From Greek 'malakos', meaning 'soft', and 'phagein', meaning 'to eat'.
Example
Some ground beetles exhibit malacophagy, preying on snails and slugs as a primary food source.
Synonyms
- Molluscivory
Related Terms
- Predation
- Diet
- Carnivory
Usage Notes
Malacophagy is a dietary specialization found in various insect species, which can have significant ecological impacts on mollusk populations.