Within the evolutionary race for survival, animals, plants and all kinds of organisms, acquire different strategies and techniques to achieve their purpose: be the strongest and survive. To do this, the interspecific relationships that establish between one and the other individuals of different species, make possible the coordination and balance of the populations and their food resources, within each of the ecosystems and biological communities of the planet. One of these most outstanding relationships is undoubtedly The predationphenomenon that has been studied and interpreted by numerous ecologists with the aim of understanding and predicting ecological models of predation, including the famous predator-prison model of Lotka-Volterra, through which it is possible to know in detail how different examples of predation evolve in time.
In this ecology article, you will discover What are predators, their types and examplesas well as the characteristics of the main groups of predators and several examples of dams.
Interest relationships: What are and types
The interspecific relationships They refer to all that biological relationship which is established between different species organisms that live in the same habitat and community. These relationships, based on the fight for survival And the concept of competition, supposes one of the most important and relevant concepts of evolutionary ecology.
The species interact between them in various ways, resulting in positive interactions (+), negative (-) or even relationships in which there is no effect (0). In this way, when neither of the two species that establish an interspecific relationship affects the other, The relationship is neutral or (0 0). On the other hand, if both species benefit each other, the interaction is ( + +) or positive, known in the world of ecology as Relationship of mutualism. Another type of interspecific relationship, known as Commentaryism relationshipis based on the situation in which one species provides some type of well -being to another, being said relationship (+ 0). Know better what is dinerism and examples in this link.
On the other hand, when the relationship entails negative effects to the number and population balance of both species, we talk about competition relationship( -). There are some cases in the nature in which this interaction is (- 0), or dinerism, since a species negatively affects a second species, although the affected species comes to exert any kind of influence on the first. Finally, different types of relationships based on the benefit that some species obtain from others for their survival, follow the scheme (+ -) and receive names such as Parasitism, parasitoidism and predation. For example, you can expand information on parasitism: definition and examples with this other article.
In the next sections we will deepen exclusively in this last type of interspecific relationship cited, Predation (+ -)knowing its characteristics and some of the most common examples of nature that follow this behavior. In addition, we tell you much more about interspecific relationships, their types and examples in this other post.
What are predators: definition
The predators are each and every one of the species that opt โโfor a predation behavior such as Survival strategy and food method. In this way, depredation consists of all that relationship in which individuals of a species (predator) hunt individuals of the other species (prey) to subsist, always causing a negative effect on individuals who play the role of dams: death or injuries. However, at the population level, the effect that this Interesting relationship of predation It is rather mutual for both species, both predators and prey, because thanks to predation, the population of both achieves a balance that is maintained over time.
Normally the predation affects those sick individuals or who are less apt of the population of dams, thus achieving a mutual benefit, both for predators and for dams, by feeding some and balance the healthy population of the others.
Predators: Types
Within the animal world, different are distinguished Types of predators:
- True or carnivorous predators: They are the predators par excellence, those who follow aggressive behavior guidelines and linked to the hunting of their prey to survive. They usually ingest and devour the prey shortly after having hunted them, or if the climatic conditions predict times of famine, they are able to dose their food dose and keep part of their prey for subsequent consumption.
- Herbivores: Animals that feed on plants, seeds and fruits also follow a predation behavior although, generally, they only cause damage to plant organisms, without causing death. Here you can read more about herbivorous animals: what are and examples.
- Cannibals: In this group, those animals that feed on individuals of their own species are included in this group, either because certain ecological conditions force them to follow this behavior, or because some of the stages of their development encourages them to feed on individuals of their own species to cover their food and energy needs.
Examples of predatory animals
Below we show a list with animals from different groups such as some of the many Depredation examples more common that occur in nature. As for the types and Examples of dams that suffer the predation action for these predatory animals, the vast majority belong to groups of smaller herbivores animals (both mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish), as well as insects and other invertebrates that share their natural habitat with the fearsome predators.
Large predatory mammals and examples of dams
- Lion (Panthera Leo) – Gazelles (genus Gazella)
- Las Nieves Leopard (Panthera Uncia) – Siberian Ibice (Capra Sibirica)
- Gray foxes (Pseudolopes Griseus) – Rabbits (genus oryctolagus)
- Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) – Focas (Phocidae family)
- Orcs (Orcinus orca) – Marine wolves (Ottaria genre)
In this link you will know the characteristics of mammalian animals.
Predator Birds or Rapaces
- Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila Heiac)
- Peregrine Falcon (Falco Peregrinus)
- Andean condor (Vultur Gryphus)
- Nival owl (Bubo scandiacus)
- Common owl (Tyto Alba)
Know many more examples of these predatory animals with this other ecology article in which we show 112 birds of prey or raptors, their types, names and photo gallery.
Predatory reptiles
- Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)
- Salad water crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
- Green anaconda (Eunectes Murinus)
- Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus)
- Chameleons (Chamaeleonidae family)
Discover more predators and more features about this group of animals in this link to our article on reptile characteristics.
Amphibians insect predators and other small animals
- Common toad (Bufo bufo)
- Red and blue arrow frog (Oophaga Pumilio)
- Common salamandra (Salamandra Salamandra)
- Giant salamandras (genus Cryptobranchidae)
- Thompson cecilias (Caecilia Thompsoni)
Learn more about them in this other post about what amphibians are and where they are.
Predators
- White Shark (Carcharodon Carcharias)
- Archer fish (genus toxotes)
- Piranhas (serrasalmidae family)
- Viper fish (Chauliodus Danae)
- Morena (Muraenidae family)
Discover more about these aquatic animals with this other article in which you will discover the classification of the fish.
Predators invertebrates
- Religious Mantis (Mantidae Family)
- Tarantulas (Lycosidae family)
- Jellyfish (Medusozoa subfilus)
- Sea stars (asteroid family)
- Blue rings octopus (Hopalochlaena genus)
Know here more about invertebrate animals, examples and their characteristics.
If you want to read more articles similar to Predadores: What are, types and exampleswe recommend that you enter our biology category.
- Asencio, J. (2017) Lotka-Volterra Predator-Press model. Biology section, University of La Laguna (Spain)pp: 13-24.
- Lรณpez, D. & Buschmann, A. (1988) on the predator-prison interactions in intertidal and terrestrial ecosystems. Chilean Magazine of Natural HistoryVolume 61, pp: 19-21.
- Martรญnez, D.; RAU, J.; MURUA, R. & TILLERIA, M. (1993) Selective depredation of rodents by Chillas foxes (Pseudalopex grieus) In the Valdivian Pluviselva, Chile. Chilean Magazine of Natural HistoryVolume 66, pp: 419-426.