Cannibalism is not uncommon in the animal kingdom. According to scientists, more than 1,500 animal species have been recorded engaging in cannibalistic behavior. These species exist both on land and in water.
Sand Tiger Shark
Without a doubt, sharks are among the most elite predators in nature. They are born with killer instincts—literally.
During breeding season, a female sand tiger shark typically carries 6-7 embryos in her womb, but only one survives. The first baby shark to develop fully will eat its siblings while they are still in their eggs. It then continues to consume any unfertilized eggs within the mother’s womb. Thanks to this high-protein diet, the surviving pup is born nearly 3 feet (almost 1 meter) long, making it large enough to avoid threats from other predators in the ocean.
Prairie Dogs (also known as the grassland squirrel).
Prairie dogs are perhaps the most horrifying—and paradoxically, the cutest—mass cannibals in the animal kingdom.
Thanks to the research of behavioral ecologist John Hoogland, we know that some prairie dogs exhibit this shocking behavior. Fortunately, not all of them do.
“We found that most females mated, but very few of them successfully weaned their offspring,” said Hoogland, who has studied these rodents since 1974.
Researchers observed certain female prairie dogs entering the burrows of their relatives. When they emerged, their faces were often covered in blood. “We discovered that most of the young inside had been eaten,” Hoogland explained.
“Killing the offspring of relatives to improve the survival chances of one’s own young is an extreme form of competition,” he added.
In that sense, prairie dogs truly live in a world where cannibalism plays a role in survival.
Cane Toad
Frogs eating frogs? Believe it or not, it’s real.
Native to South America, cane toads have a strong preference for eating their own species’ eggs as soon as they detect them. They are particularly attracted to a toxic compound called bufadienolides, which protects the eggs. The nutrients from these eggs help young toads grow while also reducing future competition (University of Sydney & James Cook University, 2011).
A 2008 study found that cane toads constantly move the middle toe of their hind legs to lure prey—including their own kind. When researchers observed 28 juvenile cane toads, they found that 64% of the 149 prey they consumed were other cane toads.
Snakes
A 2009 study on the Mexican lance-headed rattlesnake found that 68% of mothers ate their own offspring, including those that had died before birth. Scientists believe this behavior helps the mother regain vital nutrients for future reproductive cycles.
The New York Times (1901) once reported a case at the Bronx Zoo where a large female cobra developed a taste for black snakes, leading to a significant decline in their population at the zoo.
Australian Redback Spider
Male Australian redback spiders sacrifice themselves during mating by positioning their bodies over the female’s mouth. This allows them to transfer sperm while being consumed.
A 2003 study by Maydianne Andrade from the University of Toronto Scarborough revealed that 65% of these male spiders are eaten. Interestingly, those that were eaten mated for a longer duration and produced twice as many offspring as those that escaped.
American Alligator
American alligators eat a variety of prey—including other alligators.
In 2022, Port Charlotte resident Tammy Shaw witnessed a large alligator consuming a smaller one at Silver Springs Park in Florida. According to Adam Rosenblatt, an assistant professor of biology at the University of North Florida specializing in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), this behavior has existed for millions of years.
Alligators swallow smaller prey whole, while larger prey is violently thrashed apart using a technique known as the “death roll.”
Praying Mantis
Female praying mantises are notorious for decapitating males during mating. Even after losing its head, the male’s nervous system remains active, allowing mating to continue for hours. However, if a male mantis is quick enough to escape right after mating, it may survive.
Scorpions
Scorpions are solitary creatures. When they encounter another scorpion, a fight often ensues, and the loser becomes the winner’s next meal. Cannibalism accounts for roughly 25% of a scorpion’s diet. Like many arachnids, scorpions may also eat their mates after reproduction.
Mormon Crickets
Closely related to grasshoppers, Mormon crickets travel in massive swarms searching for food. Any individuals that collapse from exhaustion become an immediate meal for the rest of the swarm, as their bodies provide essential protein and minerals.
Lions
Lions live in prides, with each group ruled by a dominant male. When younger males challenge and defeat the leader, they often kill the previous leader’s cubs. This brutal act asserts their dominance and eliminates competition within the pride.
Chimpanzees
Chimpanzees, our closest relatives, are among the most intelligent animals on Earth. However, they also exhibit cannibalistic tendencies.
Chimpanzee troops sometimes organize group hunts, targeting and eating infant chimps from rival groups.
Jaguars
A 2010 study in The Southwestern Naturalist documented the first recorded case of adult jaguar (Panthera onca) cannibalism in the wild. Two male jaguars were observed killing and partially consuming a female jaguar.
Since the region had abundant prey, researchers believed the violent encounter stemmed from territorial conflicts rather than food scarcity. Jaguars have also been known to kill and eat their own cubs, although this is rare.
Tigers
Researchers continue to study cannibalism in tigers (Panthera tigris), but evidence shows that adult tigers occasionally kill and eat cubs and even other adults.
For example, in 2019, a male tiger in Kanha National Park, India, killed and consumed an adult female tiger along with her two nearly grown cubs. Given the availability of prey in the area, this incident surprised conservationists and wildlife officials (Times of India).
