From mantis to hippo: 5 animals that eat their own species

We often think of nature as peaceful and beautiful. But life in the wild is not easy. Animals do not think like humans. They do what they need to do to survive.

Sometimes, this means doing things that may shock us. One such behaviour is cannibalism. This means an animal eats another animal of the same kind. It does not happen all the time. When it does, it is usually because of hunger, stress, or survival needs.

Here are five animals where this behaviour has been seen:
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Disclaimer: The details in this article are based on online sources and ecological studies. Information may differ depending on species and region.

Images: Canva (for representative purposes only)

Cane toads show cannibalism very early in life. Bigger tadpoles are known to eat newly hatched tadpoles.


This is mostly seen in Australia, where cane toads are found in large numbers. Since there is very little competition for food, the species has grown rapidly. To survive, some tadpoles grow faster so they do not remain small and easy targets for their own kind.

Praying mantises are one of the most known examples of cannibalism. In some cases, the female eats the male after mating.


This is called sexual cannibalism. It is also seen in other insects and spiders. Females that do this are known to produce more eggs. Even though it looks cruel, it still helps the species continue.

In some crab spider species, the mother becomes food for her babies. After the eggs hatch, the young spiders feed on her body.


This behaviour is known as matriphagy. It is mostly seen in insects and spiders. By doing this, the mother helps her young survive during their early days.

Hamster mothers are sometimes seen eating their newborn babies. This can happen both in the wild and in captivity.


Experts believe this happens when the mother is not getting enough nutrients. It is not normal behaviour and usually happens under stress.

Hippos are mostly plant eaters, which makes this behaviour unexpected. They have been recorded eating the bodies of other adult hippos.


They are not known to eat baby hippos. Scientists think this happens only in extreme situations, when food is very hard to find.