Do some animals eat their young?

Answer 1

"around 140 different species show cannibalistic tendencies under various conditions. Cannibalism is most common among lower vertebrates and invertebrates, often due to a predatory animal mistaking one of its own kind for prey. But it also occurs among birds and mammals, especially when food is scarce. "

More info here:
http://ladywildlife.com/animal/cannibalisminanimals.html

Answer 2

Yes
The word cannibalism comes from the name of an island race called the Cannibals. This warrior tribe had the habit of feasting on their enemies killed or captured in battle. The name has since been applied to any animal that eats others of its own species. There are two kinds of cannibals: active and passive. Active cannibals hunt and kill their own kind before eating them. Passive cannibals feed on already dead members of their own species. Active cannibalism takes various forms. In some species, for example, it occurs only between animals of one generation, while among others it is common between adults and their offspring.
Of the higher mammals, the lion shows the most definite cannibalistic tendencies. There have been many reports of male lions killing and then sometimes eating young cubs. In almost all cases, however, the male lion is prompted to kill the cub, not from hunger or population pressure, but by a need to safeguard his own offspring. In most cases, the young are killed but not eaten. This is better described as infanticide, the killing of young, rather than cannibalism.
The males of several primate species, including the common langur, also practice infanticide. Bands of male langurs will attack a mixed troop, driving off the males and killing the offspring before mating with the females. Baboons also have been observed killing their young, and, like the lion, occasionally even eat them.
Many rodents show infanticide, including rats, ground squirrels, lemmings, hamsters, mice, voles, muskrats, gerbils, prairie dogs and marmots.

Answer 3

I don't believe there is any animal which eats it's own offspring. That would be extremely unhelpful for evolution so that trait would immediately be removed. Male lions (and probably many more males from other species) kill the young their mates had before they met each other. They do that to ensure their genes are passed on to the next generation, and not those of their competitors.

Answer 4

Yes, sometimes some animals eat their young : lions, cats (males), fishes...

Answer 5

Yes, pigs do... and rats and mice too -- sometimes they eat the runt because it will die anyway

Answer 6

yea if they are that mean, they have many kinds of reptiles that eat their young, like crocs., alligators, snakes, turtles, and even some wolves and cyotes, sad aint it!

Answer 7

Some do, but it is usually because they get scared

Answer 8

Pigs will.

Answer 9

yes, no idea why and it is weird :)

Answer 10

yes they do!