superpredator
Unchallenged food-chain ruler
A superpredator is a predator at the top of the food chain, one that no other animal hunts.
Lions, orcas, and great white sharks are superpredators in their ecosystems.
The term gained notoriety in the 1990s when applied to young violent criminals, particularly Black youth—a usage now widely condemned as both racist and empirically unfounded.
The superpredator myth justified harsher juvenile sentencing.
Largest predatory fish
- orcaLarge predatory dolphin
- killer whaleApex ocean predator
- tigerLarge striped Asian feline
- lionManed African feline
saltwater crocodile · polar bear · Tyrannosaurus rex · megalodon · wolf pack · jaguar · leopard · grizzly bear
One who consumes flesh
- hypercarnivoreDiet exceeds seventy percent flesh
- obligate carnivoreAnimal requiring only flesh
- carnassialFlesh-shearing premolar or molar
- megafaunaSpecies over 44 kilograms
Ecological feeding hierarchy
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- keystone speciesOutsized ecological impact organism
- population controlPolicies limiting demographic growth
- biodiversityRange of life forms
habitat · territory · ecological balance · carrying capacity · wildlife management
Causing or capable of death
- deadlyAble to cause expiration
- dangerousApt to cause harm
- fearsomeCausing intense alarm
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
intimidating · menacing · ruthless · aggressive · territorial · ambush · stalking · pursuit
First Greek letter
- megafaunaSpecies over 44 kilograms
- hypercarnivoreDiet exceeds seventy percent flesh
- food webInterconnected predator-prey relationships
great white shark
Largest predatory fish
- orcaLarge predatory dolphin
- killer whaleApex ocean predator
- tigerLarge striped Asian feline
lion · saltwater crocodile · polar bear · Tyrannosaurus rex · megalodon · wolf pack · jaguar · leopard · grizzly bear · African wild dog
meat-eater
One who consumes flesh
- hypercarnivoreDiet exceeds seventy percent flesh
- obligate carnivoreAnimal requiring only flesh
- carnassialFlesh-shearing premolar or molar
megafauna · pack hunter · solitary hunter · mesopredator · carrion
food chain
Ecological feeding hierarchy
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- keystone speciesOutsized ecological impact organism
- population controlPolicies limiting demographic growth
biodiversity · habitat · territory · ecological balance · carrying capacity · wildlife management
lethal
Causing or capable of death
formidable · intimidating · menacing · ruthless · aggressive · territorial · ambush · stalking · pursuit · attack
alpha
First Greek letter
- megafaunaSpecies over 44 kilograms
- hypercarnivoreDiet exceeds seventy percent flesh
- food webInterconnected predator-prey relationships
superpredatorprey
Animal being hunted
herbivore · autotroph · plankton · grazer · detritivore
superpredatorprey species
superpredatorprey
Animal being hunted
victim · quarry · vulnerable species · game animal · bottom feeder