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kleptoparasitism

Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The parasitic theft of captured prey, nest material, etc. from animals of the same or another species.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

klepto- +‎ parasitism

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Examples

  • These birds are fairly common throughout Southeast Asia, India and Australia, and generally make their living by either scavenging seafood or kleptoparasitism stealing prey from other birds, but they will sometimes hunt bats or hares.

    Mystery bird: Brahminy kite, Haliastur indus 2011

  • Behavioralists call this strategy kleptoparasitism, but the move should be familiar beginning in junior high school and ending just about the time that hen loses her resolve and makes that mistake.

    MY EMPIRE OF DIRT Manny Howard 2010

  • Behavioralists call this strategy kleptoparasitism, but the move should be familiar beginning in junior high school and ending just about the time that hen loses her resolve and makes that mistake.

    MY EMPIRE OF DIRT Manny Howard 2010

  • Behavioralists call this strategy kleptoparasitism, but the move should be familiar beginning in junior high school and ending just about the time that hen loses her resolve and makes that mistake.

    MY EMPIRE OF DIRT Manny Howard 2010

  • Behavioralists call this strategy kleptoparasitism, but the move should be familiar beginning in junior high school and ending just about the time that hen loses her resolve and makes that mistake.

    MY EMPIRE OF DIRT Manny Howard 2010

  • Le Corre suggests that the occurrence of the white-tailed brown morph at Europa may act as a defensive camouflage against kleptoparasitism (a behavior of stealing another bird's catch) by great frigatebirds (Fregata minor) and brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica).

    Ile Europa and Bassas da India xeric scrub 2008

  • High hunting costs make African wild dogs vulnerable to kleptoparasitism by hyaenas.

    Lunging is expensive, jaws can be noisy, and what’s with the asymmetry? Rorquals part III Darren Naish 2006

  • High hunting costs make African wild dogs vulnerable to kleptoparasitism by hyaenas.

    Archive 2006-10-01 Darren Naish 2006

  • It seems that gadwalls are not passive feeders but occasionally steal food directly from the coots – a behaviour known as kleptoparasitism.

    Birdwatch: why coots and their ‘friends’ are worth a closer look Stephen Moss 2022

Comments

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  • (n). The stealing of food from an organism or animal that has caught, killed, or stored it. Noted in bees, birds, and other animals. Advantageous to the parasite which expends much less time and energy sercuring food.

    Also cleptoparasitism

    July 30, 2009