Animal suicide
Encyclopedia
Self destructive behavior has been observed in various species in the animal kingdom which some have likened to suicide.
"Suicide" has been observed in salmonella
seeking to overcome competing bacteria by triggering an immune system
response against them. Suicidal defences by workers are also noted in a Brazilian ant Forelius pusillus where a small group of ants leaves the security of the nest after sealing the entrance from the outside each evening.
Pea aphid
s, when threatened by a ladybug, can explode themselves, scattering and protecting their brethren and sometimes even killing the lady bug. Some species of termite
s have soldiers that explode, covering their enemies with sticky goo. There have been anecdotal reports of dog
s, horse
s, and dolphin
s committing suicide, but with little conclusive evidence. There has been little scientific study of animal suicide.
"Suicide" has been observed in salmonella
Salmonella
Salmonella is a genus of rod-shaped, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, predominantly motile enterobacteria with diameters around 0.7 to 1.5 µm, lengths from 2 to 5 µm, and flagella which grade in all directions . They are chemoorganotrophs, obtaining their energy from oxidation and reduction...
seeking to overcome competing bacteria by triggering an immune system
Immune system
An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own...
response against them. Suicidal defences by workers are also noted in a Brazilian ant Forelius pusillus where a small group of ants leaves the security of the nest after sealing the entrance from the outside each evening.
Pea aphid
Pea aphid
The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum is a sap-sucking insect in the Aphididae family. It feeds on severals species of legumes worldwide, including forage crops such as pea, clover, alfalfa, and broad bean, and ranks among the aphid species of major agronomical importance.The pea aphid is a model...
s, when threatened by a ladybug, can explode themselves, scattering and protecting their brethren and sometimes even killing the lady bug. Some species of termite
Termite
Termites are a group of eusocial insects that, until recently, were classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera , but are now accepted as the epifamily Termitoidae, of the cockroach order Blattodea...
s have soldiers that explode, covering their enemies with sticky goo. There have been anecdotal reports of dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
s, horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s, and dolphin
Dolphin
Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
s committing suicide, but with little conclusive evidence. There has been little scientific study of animal suicide.