What is called a rat that eats other rats? - briefly
The animal is described as a cannibalistic rat, commonly termed «cannibal rat». Such individuals exhibit predatory behavior toward conspecifics.
What is called a rat that eats other rats? - in detail
A rat that consumes members of its own species is classified as a «cannibal rat». In scientific literature the behavior is also described as «intraspecific predation».
Cannibalism occurs most frequently in the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) and the black rat (Rattus rattus). Documented cases involve juveniles, females with litters, and adult males competing for resources.
Typical triggers include:
- limited food availability,
- high population density,
- maternal stress leading to offspring consumption,
- territorial disputes among adults.
Physiologically, the gastrointestinal tract of a cannibal rat processes conspecific tissue without special adaptation; the behavior relies on opportunistic feeding patterns rather than specialized morphology. Hormonal fluctuations, particularly elevated corticosterone, correlate with increased aggression and predatory actions toward conspecifics.
Ecologically, cannibalism can regulate local rat populations, reducing competition for scarce resources. However, the practice also heightens the risk of pathogen transmission, as blood‑borne diseases spread more readily through the ingestion of infected tissue.
Research articles frequently employ the term «cannibal rat» when discussing laboratory observations of intraspecific predation, experimental models of stress‑induced aggression, and field studies of urban rodent dynamics.