Does size matter? Reports of cannibalism in scorpions (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Turkey
Short Communication
Cannibalism is a phenomenon where one individual kills and consumes another of its own species, often arising during conflicts related to survival or reproduction (e.g., Persson et al. 2000, DeVore et al. 2021). Early authors have suggested that this mechanism regulates and controls the predator population size, facilitating their survival during prey scarcity (Elgar & Crespi 1992, Wise 2006, Oliveira et al. 2022). As potential competition decreases, resources such as food, shelter, and territory become more readily available. Therefore, cannibalism may result from high population density and/or strong intraspecific competition for prey resources (Davison et al. 2020).
Yağmur, Ersen & Lira, André & Kurt, Rıdvan & Tezcan, Erman & Kartal, İbrahim & Sipahioğlu, Özgün. (2025). Does size matter? Reports of cannibalism in scorpions (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Turkey.. 21. 90-92.
