Is there a creature that prefers to be cannibalistic, by instinct?

Question

Is there an organism that prefers to eat its own kind over any other organism? It doesn't need to be exclusively cannibalistic, but it would PREFER eating its own kind if given the choice.

Answer 1

There are a few frog species in the genus Lechriodus that can be primarily cannibalistic, especially as tadpoles.

They live in eastern Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia, and their chief competition as well as the main available food source is actually other members of their own species.

There are also a number of other frog species that can become cannibalistic predators in the right circumstances. Most of the time, they are normal, bacteria and algae eating tadpoles. But if the pond they are in starts changing in chemistry because it is drying up, some of the tadpoles become cannibals. They attack and eat the peaceful, herbivore tadpoles, and grow to monstrous size. By becoming cannibals they can grow much more quickly than their brothers and sisters, and may actually develop before the pond dries up. So what might seem on the surface to be a maladaptive evolutionary strategy actually works to ensure that at least some of the genes survive to pass on to another generation.

Considering the number of insect species that also utilize temporary aquatic habitats for larval development, I would be very surprised if some of them didn't follow a similar strategy, but as far as I know, no one has documented such cannibalistic activity.

Answer 2

I doubt it. Most animals that are cannibilitic just eat each other because of convenience. It wouldn't help the survival of a species if they were always wanting to eat eachother.

However, several spiders are highly cannibilistic. For instance, the female black widow often eats her mate after mating...but that only happens during mating season. Black widows are web spiders, so they don't move much. There is also another kind of spider that protects her brood until they hatch and then allows the babies to eat her as a head start in life.

Answer 3

no, i don't think any creature prefers to eat it's own kind, usually the jaws, and digestive system are developed for a particular prey, however, all animals if threatened with starvation will turn cannibal or aggresive to it's own kind in order to survive.
tadpoles are probably the most cannabilistic animal.

Answer 4

Many young have to be protected by their mothers against the males of the species who will eat the young(fish and carnivores) .Some female spiders eat their mates after mating.

Answer 5

that would be contrary to all of a creatures instincts to breed though if it comes down to self preservation then most would eat their own, even the black widow spider mates before it eats its partner meaning the species will continue

Answer 6

Some species of shark eat each other, and even eat their own young, a not uncommon thing in many species of animal, by the way.

Answer 7

Must be the praying mantis, after mating the female instinctivly eats the male, not sure why but thats what happens

Answer 8

Some spiders are very cannabalistic. But not sure if they prefer the arachnid taste over insect.

Answer 9

A lot of animals eat their young, and human mothers of teenagers understand why.

Answer 10

yes chimps go on raid to get smaller monkeys for protein they also will at times kill their own and eat them