predation
Consuming other organisms
Predation is the act of hunting and killing other animals for food.
The term belongs primarily to biology and ecology, describing the relationship between predator and prey: Owls rely on predation of small rodents.
Extended uses describe exploitative behavior toward vulnerable people: financial predation on the elderly.
The adjective is predatory.
Stealthy, persistent pursuit
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- pursuitAct of chasing something
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- quarryPit for extracting rock
capture · kill · camouflage · stealth · pounce · chase · trapping · snare
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- food chainEcological feeding hierarchy
- keystone speciesOutsized ecological impact organism
- coevolutionReciprocal adaptation between interacting species
- carnivoryEating only meat
herbivory · omnivory · niche · biomass · biodiversity · interspecific · adaptation · habitat
Sharp piercing teeth
- clawsAnimal gripping nails
- talonsHooked bird claws
- jawsMouth's bony framework
- teethEnamel-covered chewing structures
venom · beak · mandibles · tentacles · stinger · canines · incisors · pincers
Creature eating only animals
- insectivoreOrganism eating bugs primarily
- omnivoreEats plants and animals
- scavengerSeeker of refuse
- carrionPutrefying animal remains
carcass · consumption · digestion · foraging · hoarding · caching · detritivore · frugivore
Concealment through visual blending
- mimicryAdaptive resemblance to another
- armorProtective combat covering
- spinesStiff, pointed projections
- quillsHollow defensive animal spikes
toxins · escape · evasion · flight · vigilance · alertness · startle · alarm call
Control through clever influence
- victimizeHarm someone deliberately
- take advantageUse opportunistically for benefit
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
- exploitNotable act or abuse
extort · swindle · defraud · target · vulnerable · powerless · parasitic · opportunistic
stalking
Stealthy, persistent pursuit
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- pursuitAct of chasing something
- trackingMonitoring location over time
quarry · capture · kill · camouflage · stealth · pounce · chase · trapping · snare · attack
ecosystem
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- food chainEcological feeding hierarchy
- keystone speciesOutsized ecological impact organism
- coevolutionReciprocal adaptation between interacting species
carnivory · herbivory · omnivory · niche · biomass · biodiversity · interspecific · adaptation · habitat · territoriality
fangs
Sharp piercing teeth
teeth · venom · beak · mandibles · tentacles · stinger · canines · incisors · pincers · proboscis
carnivore
Creature eating only animals
- insectivoreOrganism eating bugs primarily
- omnivoreEats plants and animals
- scavengerSeeker of refuse
carrion · carcass · consumption · digestion · foraging · hoarding · caching · detritivore · frugivore · meat-eating
camouflage
Concealment through visual blending
- mimicryAdaptive resemblance to another
- armorProtective combat covering
- spinesStiff, pointed projections
quills · toxins · escape · evasion · flight · vigilance · alertness · startle · alarm call · herding
manipulate
Control through clever influence
- victimizeHarm someone deliberately
- take advantageUse opportunistically for benefit
- abuseCruel or violent treatment
exploit · extort · swindle · defraud · target · vulnerable · powerless · parasitic · opportunistic · coercive
- survival strategieshibernation, mimicry, dormancy, territoriality, herding
- invertebrate ecologyecological niches, food webs, mutualism, parasitism, commensalism
- ecologyhabitat, ecosystem, balance, niche, food webs
- zoologymammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects
- animal behaviorsswimming, running, walking, jumping, flying
- carnivoresmeat-eating, wolf, tiger, hypercarnivore, lion
predationherbivory
Plant consumption by animals
grazing · scavenging · filter feeding · browsing · photosynthesis
predationmutualism
Two-way biological benefit
symbiosis · commensalism · cooperation · protection · coexistence