What species of animals will kill their own species?

[Sureshot324]

Does anyone know of any animals that will kill members of its own species? I've heard that different colonies of ants can go to war with each other, and I'm curious on what species other than humans will commit murder and go to war. If anyone has links to good articles on the subject that would be great.

 

[Twista]

some female spiders after sexxing i think. (its not an animal though)

 

[cKGunslinger]

Damn near all carnivores, under certain circumstances. Primates. Many insects.

 

[Greenman]

Chimps kill and eat their own kind. Male lions will kill the young of another male, dolphins fight, I don't remember if they kill each other though. There are a few other others, watched a great show on discovery about it.

 

[Mo0o]

Pretty much all carnivores will attack one another when resources get low.

I dont know about the "murder" tag. I dont think a cheetah is sitting in his cave secretly planning to off his buddy for the next gazelle that comes along

 

[Dumac]

Originally posted by: Twista
some female spiders after sexxing i think. (its not an animal though)

What??

Tasmanian Devil mothers eat most of their litter after giving birth.

 

[Biturbo]

Male bears will sometimes kill bear cubs.

 

[CKent]

A fair amount of male mammals will occasionallly kill young of their species, usually if it's sired by someone other than them, sometimes even if it's theirs. In addition to the ones already mentioned, hippos have been observed doing this, and the shocker - domestic cats as well.

 

[Compton]

Well dogfighting and cockfighting gives two examples.

 

[HombrePequeno]

Chimpanzees commit genocide every now and again from what I've read. Also, wolverines will eat their own.

You've already pointed out that different colonies of ants will go to war. I think I've read about all of that in The Third Chimpanzee by Jared Diamond.

 

[silverpig]

The better question would be what species DON'T kill their own kind. I'm guessing this list will be much shorter.

 

[krunchykrome]

Monkeys/Gorillas

 

[Tipsy Turtle]

Dolphins and porpoises have been known to go genocidal on other groups of their own.

 

[Hannover]

The "Jungles" episode of Planet Earth had a very disturbing segment on Chimps. Two groups were having a turf war, the winners killed and ate one of the losers. They were just passing ribs and other parts around, happily munching away. The unique part of this was that they were in an area with an over abundance of food. Cannibalism is usually reserved for times of starvation.

 

[Gibsons]

Mice will eat their young on occasion.

Preying Mantises after sex, similar to spiders.

some birds will kill siblings in the nest.

 

[waggy]

also some baby birds will push out the others so they have all the food.



also i have a feeling this did not go the OP thought it would..

 

[Mizugori]

I read that great white sharks cannibalize other great whites.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: Mizugori
I read that great white sharks cannibalize other great whites.

I saw on Nature that they cannibalize each other in the womb.

 

[Strk]

Originally posted by: silverpig
The better question would be what species DON'T kill their own kind. I'm guessing this list will be much shorter.

Cows

 

[AmpedSilence]

I think most species kill each other or at least wound them to point where recovery is not possible. that's just how the stronger members of the species make sure that the better genetic material is passed on. Given that humans do it in a different manor and extent, it still happens throughout the animal world.

 

[OutHouse]

house cats. male cats often kill and eat kittens.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: Strk

Originally posted by: silverpig
The better question would be what species DON'T kill their own kind. I'm guessing this list will be much shorter.

Cows

Actually, think about all the head-butting battles between herbivores over mates. I'm sure that ends in death by goring often as well.

So in summary, there are few -- if any -- species that don't kill members of their own species.

 

[Phoenix86]

Just about all big cats will kill the young of a female to make them go into season and have their offspring.

Originally posted by: waggy
also i have a feeling this did not go (way) the OP thought it would..

Well he did mention the ant thing, so I'm betting he was more curious than "humans are a unique evil" slant.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Strk

Originally posted by: silverpig
The better question would be what species DON'T kill their own kind. I'm guessing this list will be much shorter.

Cows

"Don?t kid yourself, Jimmy. If a cow ever got the chance, he?d eat you and everyone you care about!" - Troy McClure

ZV

 

[txrandom]

Originally posted by: Twista
some female spiders after sexxing i think. (its not an animal though)

Spiders are animals...