Articles tagged with Cannibalism
A 37-year study by the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center found that cannibalism is the primary killer of juvenile blue crabs in mid-salinity waters. However, young crabs can escape predation by migrating to shallow waters, where they are safer from adult crabs and other predators.
Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark believe that killer whales do not perceive themselves as members of their own species when hunting other whales. This predation pressure may have driven the evolution of unique family structures among resident killer whale groups.
Researchers discovered signs of human remains being manipulated and dissected, indicating cannibalism among Late Ice Age societies in Central Europe. The findings suggest that cannibalism may have occurred due to conflicts over resources or territories, rather than necessity.
Archaeologists have found evidence of mass violence and cannibalism at the Early Bronze Age site of Charterhouse Warren in England. The discovery of over 3,000 human bones suggests that the people were massacred, butchered, and partly consumed by enemies to dehumanize them.
Researchers have gained a better understanding of mosasaur evolution, relationships, and behaviors through advanced imaging technologies and comparative anatomy. A new study found evidence of cannibalism in mosasaurs and illuminated patterns of foraging area segregation and feeding diversity.
Researchers have identified James Fitzjames, a senior officer of Sir John Franklin's 1845 Northwest Passage expedition, using DNA and genealogical analyses. The identification was made possible by a DNA sample from a living descendant that matched the remains found on King William Island.
Research reveals cell-in-cell phenomena are common in non-cancer cells, playing roles in development, homeostasis and stress response. The study argues against targeting cell-in-cell events for cancer therapy, opening new avenues for research in evolutionary biology, oncology and regenerative medicine.
Researchers have documented cannibalism in the mainland dusky antechinus during its breeding period. The behavior is linked to stress-induced death and provides an opportunity for energy gain via eating dead males or females of other species.
A Virginia Tech study found that hellbender fathers are more likely to eat their eggs in deforested areas, leading to a drastic increase in filial cannibalism. The research suggests that protecting and re-establishing forest cover around streams is crucial for the species' survival.
Researchers have identified cut marks on a fossil leg bone that suggest butchery and likely cannibalism by humans' close evolutionary relatives around 1.45 million years ago. The analysis of 3D models revealed nine clear matches for stone tool damage, which was found to be located in areas suitable for removing flesh.
Researchers found that wolf spider species in Nebraska exhibited similar diets, with many eating the same types of prey. This suggests a complex food web where predators are not just competing for resources, but also engaging in cannibalism to regulate their populations and stabilize the ecosystem.
A study found that migratory locusts release phenylacetonitrile (PAN) to protect themselves from cannibalism, which contributes to their swarming behavior. The compound acts as an anti-cannibalistic signal, increasing when population density rises.
Researchers discovered a chemical defense mechanism in migratory locusts that deters cannibalism, reducing the formation of destructive swarms. The pheromone PAN protects individuals from being eaten by other locusts when population density increases.
Scientists found 12 human bone pendants out of 37 samples, which were made from elk and bovine animal bones. The discovery suggests that the use of human bones as a raw material was common in Stone Age cultures.
A study of over 12,000 fish across 17 species found that cannibalism is extremely rare in the wild, occurring in less than 0.30% of cases. The researchers identified population density and resource availability as key drivers of cannibalistic behavior, contradicting previous assumptions.
In the species Isodontia harmandi, siblings regularly consume each other to ensure access to their mother's food resources. This unique behavior is observed in communal brood cells, where siblings compete for limited resources.
Researchers found that male spiders use a catapult mechanism to escape female mates in an act of sexual cannibalism, with successful matings ending in catapulting and all surviving males. The study shows that this behavior evolved to fight against female predation pressure.
In a study on cannibalism in poison frog tadpoles, researchers found that relatedness affects aggression levels. Large tadpoles were less aggressive towards their smaller siblings than non-siblings, suggesting they can discriminate between relatives and change behavior accordingly.
Researchers found that less selfish behavior evolved under living conditions forcing frequent sibling interactions, verifying a key concept in evolutionary theory. The study provides insight into the importance of cannibalism in ecosystems and its potential application to studying human behavior.
Researchers found high frequencies of theropod bite marks on large-bodied sauropods, armored Mymoorapelta, and other dinosaurs at the Mygatt-Moore Quarry site. The data suggests an ecosystem where dinosaur remains lay out for months, providing a food source for multiple predators and scavengers.
A PLOS study found nearly 29% of Jurassic bones bore theropod bites, with most targeting herbivores but some theropods feeding on each other. Scavenging may have been a response to food scarcity in stressed ecosystems.
A new study reveals that adult comb jellies consume their own offspring blooms as a nutrient source, allowing them to persist in extreme conditions. This behavior enables the jellies to colonize further than climate systems and other conditions would allow, posing a threat to native species.
Researchers analyzed skulls to uncover relationships between people groups, upending longstanding hypotheses about the Caribbean's colonization. The study reveals the presence of Caribs in Jamaica, Hispaniola, and the Bahamas, supporting Columbus' accounts of fierce raiders.
Researchers discover that cell cannibalism contributes to the concentration of harmful substances, leading to a 'double-whammy' for cell health. This process can perpetuate disease transmission and exacerbate conditions like atherosclerosis.
A mathematical model shows that sacrificing a few offspring can lead to increased total offspring survival, especially in overcrowded environments. This suggests that filial cannibalism and offspring abandonment might be considered forms of parental care.
A new study reveals that wild cobras frequently eat other snakes and engage in cannibalism, with five out of six species displaying the behavior. Males are more likely to participate in cannibalism events, raising questions about its evolution and impact on intrasexual competition.
New research reveals a mechanism driving cell cannibalism in tumors, suggesting it may resist cancer growth. Weakened cell attachments trigger entosis, where one cell kills and digests another, potentially slowing or preventing tumor growth.
According to a study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, plants produce defensive chemicals like methyl jasmonate that deter herbivores. When these chemicals are present, caterpillars become more likely to turn to cannibalism, benefiting the plant by reducing herbivore populations.
A study led by NYU Langone researchers found that cellular 'cannibalism' is a common mechanism in embryonic development, where cells sacrifice unwanted contents to reproduce. This process may be vital for many cell types across evolution and has implications for understanding brain disorders and reproductive issues.
Scientists have found fossil evidence of cannibalism among 300-million-year-old Orthacanthus sharks. The ancient predators used coastal swamps as nurseries for their babies before turning on them when resources became scarce.
In a study on colonial orb-weaving spider Cyrtophora citricola, researchers found that males were twice as likely to mate with well-fed females, suggesting they are choosier due to high mortality rates. Females ate over 80% of their mates, implying cannibalism may promote male mate choice.
Researchers have discovered that the skull of a Daspletosaurus, a large tyrannosaurine dinosaur, suffered numerous injuries during life and also after death. The injuries included bites that healed, as well as those inflicted after death by another tyrannosaur, indicating evidence of combat between two large carnivores.
A new study found that a parasite significantly increases cannibalism among freshwater shrimp in Northern Ireland. Infected shrimp become voracious and consume their victims twice as much as uninfected animals. The research suggests that the parasite may be weakening the shrimp's resistance to invasive species.
Researchers found that male spiders of the Micaria sociabilis species are more likely to consume female spiders than be consumed by them. This behavior is linked to male size and age, suggesting a possible type of male mate choice.
A University of Alberta researcher has discovered 70 million year old evidence of dinosaur cannibalism in southern Alberta. The jawbone of a Gorgosaurus contained a tooth from another meat-eating dinosaur, suggesting a violent encounter between two dinosaurs.
A team of scientists discovered that blue stragglers, massive rogue stars found in globular clusters, are formed through a process known as stellar cannibalism. This theory is supported by observations of over 50 globular clusters and suggests that binary star systems play a key role in the formation of these stars.
A team of scientists led by Iain Couzin found that cannibalistic interactions are responsible for locusts' collective motion. The behavior, observed in immature locusts, leads to the formation of large mobile groups called bands that devour vegetation and eventually precede flying swarms.
Millions of Mormon crickets are driven by a need for protein and salt, as well as the threat of cannibalism. Researchers found that the crickets' migration is a forced march, with the constant danger from behind pushing them forward.
Researchers analyzed bone fragments at the Donner Family campsite in California's Tahoe National Forest, finding no conclusive evidence of cannibalism. The team discovered domestic and wild animals were consumed, but human bone was not identified.
A team of archaeologists has uncovered a cooking hearth and bone fragments at Alder Creek Camp in the Tahoe National Forest, providing new evidence to locate the Donner Party camp and settle debates about cannibalism. The discovery includes broken china, bits of jewelry, musket balls, fragments of a wagon, and a chunk of a writing slate.
Cannibalism is reevaluated as a complex practice with positive meanings among the Wari' people of the Amazon rainforest. The study reveals that funerary cannibalism was an act of affection, respect, and coping mechanism for grief, helping survivors to reconcile with their deceased loved ones.
A new study by Scripps researchers reveals that tiny marine crustaceans called copepods use cannibalism as a mechanism to limit their population. The study found that egg mortality in copepod species Calanus finmarchicus is directly related to the abundance of females in the population, suggesting a self-regulating mechanism.
A new study has identified biochemical remains of human tissue in a coprolite, providing definitive evidence for sporadic cannibalism in the Southwest. The analysis suggests that at least seven people were systematically cut up and consumed by residents of an Anasazi site around 1150.
The discovery of 78 Neanderthal bones at Moula-Guercy suggests that European Neanderthals practiced cannibalism, systematically defleshing and breaking apart the bones to remove marrow and brains. The abundance of natural resources available at the site makes survival-based cannibalism unlikely.
A new study found that cannibalism among flour beetles regulates population growth and stabilization. By manipulating life stages, researchers demonstrated a link between cannibalism and stable populations.