Siblicide

Quick meaning: Siblicide is a noun meaning (chiefly zoology) The killing of a sibling, especially as observed among certain species of animals.

Meaning

(chiefly zoology) The killing of a sibling, especially as observed among certain species of animals.

Example Sentences

Infanticide, siblicide, cannibalism, rape, and lethal combat have been documented in many kinds of animals.

If siblicides are victim-based, a mother clearly cannot improve her fitness by producing fewer eggs. Less obviously, mothers may eventually be able to gain by laying more, until eventually they are constrained by the costs of eggs.

Oophagy and adelphophagy, which are forms of embryonic cannibalism, occur in both cartilaginous and bony fishes. They are variations on the tactic of siblicide (Mock, 1984) as a reproductive strategy. In oophagy, embryos feed upon sibling eggs. […] Adelphophagy, literally eating one's brother, is also known in sharks as intrauterine embryonic cannibalism[…].

I continue to question the interpretation of "fatal sibling aggression" and active brood reduction as a means of maximizing productivity[…]. To me, the data clearly indicate a simple response to food availability, with the oldest young passively out-competing its smaller sibling for a limited resource. I still have not seen data to support "siblicide" as a strategy.

Word Forms

• siblicides

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include cainism, zoocide, infanticide, siboglonid, sicyoniid, suid.

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