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29 December 2021 Parental infanticide and cannibalism by the Red-legged Seriema (Cariama cristata)
Anita Studer, Luis Batista, Maria Clara B. Gomes, Miguel Ângelo Marini
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Abstract

Filial cannibalism (cannibalistic infanticide) is a common strategy among raptors though rare among other groups of birds. We describe the first case of possible parental infanticide followed by cannibalism by an adult and nestmates of Red-legged Seriema (Cariama cristata) in a brood of 3 in the Cerrado (savanna-like) ecosystem. A 20 min video recording showed a possible parent killing and eviscerating 1 of its nestlings and subsequently feeding it to the other 2 nestmates. This new record of brood reduction for wild Cariamidae might be a common behavior in both species of the family and may increase food availability and survival of the larger nestlings.

Anita Studer, Luis Batista, Maria Clara B. Gomes, and Miguel Ângelo Marini "Parental infanticide and cannibalism by the Red-legged Seriema (Cariama cristata)," The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 133(2), 354-358, (29 December 2021). https://doi.org/10.1676/21-00048
Received: 20 April 2021; Accepted: 22 July 2021; Published: 29 December 2021
KEYWORDS
brood reduction
cannibalism
Cariamidae
infanticide
raptors
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