zwierzęta: Infanticide (zoology)

Evidence: 100 • authority: 72

In animals, infanticide involves the intentional killing of young offspring by a mature animal of the same species. Animal infanticide is studied in zoology, specifically in the field of ethology. Ovicide is the analogous destruction of eggs. The practice has been observed in many species throughout the animal kingdom, especially primates (primate infanticide) but including microscopic rotifers, insects, fish, amphibians, birds and mammals. Infanticide can be practiced by both males and females. Infanticide caused by sexual conflict has the general theme of the killer (often male) becoming the new sexual partner of the victim's parent, which would otherwise be unavailable. This represents a…

Evidence: 65 • authority: 72

Female infanticide is the deliberate killing of newborn female children. Female infanticide is prevalent in several nations around the world. It has been argued that the low status in which women are viewed in patriarchal societies creates a bias against females. The modern practice of sex-selective abortion is also used to regulate gender ratios. In 1978, anthropologist Laila Williamson, in a summary of data she had collated on how widespread infanticide was, found that infanticide had occurred on every continent and was carried out by groups ranging from hunter gatherers to highly developed societies, and that, rather than this practice being an exception, it has been commonplace. The pra…

Evidence: 53 • authority: 72

A woman is an adult female human. Before adulthood, a female child or adolescent is referred to as a girl. Anatomically the general female characteristic of human sexual dimorphism is the human female reproductive system, which includes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, and vulva. Accompanying characteristics are larger breasts, which might produce human milk, and generally a wider pelvis and broader hips. These characteristics facilitate pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. Additional common characteristics are less facial and body hair, a higher body fat composition, shorter stature, and less muscle mass. Women are at greater risk of certain diseases like breast cancer, an…

Evidence: 53 • authority: 92

Revisiting Infanticide in Non-Human Primates Reveals a Similar Likelihood of Male and Female Perpetrators.. Infanticide is understood as any direct or indirect behavior that fatally harms an infant, regardless of whether the perpetrator gains benefits. In non-human primates, males are frequently identified as the perpetrators. Classical studies categorized behaviors like "abuse", "fatal neglect", "kidnapping", and "aunting to death" as forms of infanticide when they resulted in infant death. However, in more recent literature, some of these behaviors are excluded from classifications of infanticide without clear justification, particularly those involving female-related lethal actions. Ther…

Evidence: 53 • authority: 72

Human cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh or internal organs of other human beings. A person who practices cannibalism is called a cannibal. The meaning of "cannibalism" has been extended into zoology to describe animals consuming parts of individuals of the same species as food. Anatomically modern humans, Neanderthals, and Homo antecessor are known to have practised cannibalism to some extent in the Pleistocene. Cannibalism was occasionally practised in Egypt during ancient and Roman times, as well as later during severe famines. The Island Caribs of the Lesser Antilles, whose name is the origin of the word cannibal, acquired a long-standing reputation as eaters…