Predator

Definition

An organism that hunts, kills, and consumes other living animals (prey) as its primary or regular means of obtaining nutrition. In entomological and arachnological contexts, predation is a major feeding strategy across diverse lineages, with predators exhibiting specialized morphological and behavioral adaptations such as raptorial forelegs, venomous chelicerae, or ambush hunting tactics.

Etymology

Latin praedator, plunderer, from praedari to seize as plunder, from praeda prey, booty

Example

Dragonfly nymphs are aquatic predators that use a modified labium (a 'mask') to strike at mosquito larvae and other small prey; adult mantids are cursorial predators that visually stalk and seize insects with spined, raptorial forelegs.

Synonyms

• Carnivore

Related Terms

• prey
• Predation
• Raptorial
• Parasitoid
• scavenger
• Functional response
• Trophic level
• mesopredator
• apex predator

Usage Notes

Distinguished from parasitoids (which kill but do not immediately consume hosts), parasites (which feed without immediately killing), micropredators (which take multiple small meals from living hosts), and scavengers (which consume dead animals). Many arthropods are facultative predators that also scavenge or consume plant material. The term implies active hunting or trapping of live prey rather than passive consumption.