And sometimes, the so-called “parents” are the ones complicit in this brutal and fierce battle.
It’s still about survival, but to start fighting as soon as they see the light is truly horrifying. Yet, this is the real story for some animal species described below.
1. Snowy Egret – The Most Horrific Murder Case
Snowy Egrets typically lay 3 eggs, but the third egg receives only half the hormones compared to the others.
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) is a bird with a beautiful appearance, featuring pure white feathers. However, their lives are much darker than their looks, starting right from birth.
Snowy Egrets usually lay 3 eggs, but the third egg receives only half the hormones compared to the others. Naturally, with this hormone deficiency, the “chosen” chick will be significantly weaker than the other two.
If food is abundant, the older siblings will let the youngest die on its own. If food is scarce, they will devour their younger sibling or at least peck it to death or push it out of the nest.
2. Golden Eagle – Sibling Abuse Leading to Death
As soon as the “firstborn” breaks through the eggshell, the violence begins.
A nest of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) is typically large, measuring around 1.5-2.4 meters wide and about 61 cm high. However, Golden Eagle eggs do not hatch simultaneously, but rather 1 to 2 days apart.
As soon as the “firstborn” breaks through the eggshell, the violence begins. It fiercely fights for all the food the parents bring back while aggressively pecking at its siblings.
Typically, within a few weeks, the “second” and “third” chicks will die. And even though it’s clear that the parent eagles could intervene, they never do.
3. Hyenas – Mother Cannot Interfere
Newborn hyenas already have sharp jaws.
Unlike the Golden Eagles, which passively watch their chicks fight to the death, hyenas actively try to stop them. However, the moment the mother is distracted, the newly born “little ones” immediately start biting each other.
Unlike most mammals that are born without teeth, newborn hyenas have sharp jaws right from birth. They also open their eyes and eagerly confront each other, quickly diving into a battle to establish dominance.
To prevent their mother from intervening, the hyena pups frantically dig tunnels, then drag each other inside to fight. Some weaker pups die from injuries, while others starve because they are too afraid to leave their burrow.
4. Sand Tiger Shark – Killing Each Other from Within Their Mother
Even while still in their mother’s womb, Sand Tiger Shark embryos develop teeth.
Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus) is the only species in nature known for its practice of killing “siblings” even before they see the light of day.
Since female Sand Tiger Sharks have two uteri, they prepare numerous eggs. Strangely, even while still in their mother’s womb, the Sand Tiger Shark embryos develop teeth. They will use these “weapons” to bite their neighboring embryos, not sparing even the unfertilized eggs.
In the end, only 2 Sand Tiger Shark pups (one from each uterus) are born. Thanks to their “training” in the womb, they emerge as predators in the ocean.
5. Cotesia congregata Larvae – Male Massacre
Cotesia congregata larvae continuously seek out and consume the “young males” that are still unaware of the world.
Cotesia congregata is one of the deadliest parasitic wasps in the natural world. After selecting a suitable caterpillar, it lays 2 eggs on the host, one male and one female.
But that’s not all! These two eggs quickly replicate, producing around 200 male larvae and 1200 female larvae. Among these female larvae, about 50 develop earlier. They have strong jaws but lack reproductive organs.
Since only 1 or 2 male wasps are enough to mate with their female siblings, the “female army” begins the massacre. By moving all over the caterpillar’s body, they continuously hunt down and consume the “young males” who have not yet experienced life.
6. Tiger Salamander – Eating Flesh Until There’s Nothing Left
The “cannibalistic” form has a larger head, mouth, and teeth.
Among the species that kill their siblings, Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) is the least cruel. It will only consume its “siblings” when there are no “neighbors” left to eat.
Tiger Salamander larvae are born underwater and start life as tadpoles. However, they can transform into two different forms, one normal and one “cannibalistic.”
The “cannibalistic” form has a larger head, mouth, and teeth. It only appears when the pond’s water is drying up or when food is scarce.
Interestingly, Tiger Salamanders can distinguish between their “siblings” and mere “strangers.” Unless there are no other “strangers” left to fill their stomachs, they absolutely do not attack their “relatives.”
7. African Buffalo
If one is threatened, this herd of buffalo will become extremely aggressive.
According to Dân trí newspaper citing Cntraveler, there are about 900,000 African buffalo found in the sub-Saharan region of Africa. This species is quite gentle, typically roaming in large herds, grazing in the early morning and late afternoon or searching for water to drink. However, if one is threatened, they become extremely aggressive.
This animal has killed more hunters on the continent than any other species. An adult buffalo can stand over 1.8 meters tall and weigh nearly a ton. When pursuing prey, it can run at speeds of 60 km/h and does not stop even when injured. They are also unafraid to confront a moving vehicle. You definitely do not want to “mess with” this animal.
8. Belcher’s Sea Snake
Belcher’s sea snake is one of the most dangerous species in the world.
According to Lao động newspaper citing a-z-animals.com, primarily found in the Indian Ocean, Belcher’s sea snake is one of the most dangerous species in the world. This snake can grow to over 3.3 meters in length, with a slender body, yellow coloration, and green crossbanding.
Scientists believe that the venom from a single bite of this snake can kill 1,800 people. If someone is bitten by this snake, there are only about 30 minutes to receive emergency treatment and remove the venom before death occurs. However, because this snake is typically shy, the number of fatalities caused by them is quite low.
9. Nile Crocodile
The most aggressive species in the world today is the Nile crocodile.
Each year, there are approximately 1,000 crocodile attacks worldwide, with around 40% of those attacks resulting in death. The most aggressive species in the world today is the Nile crocodile, which can be found throughout rivers in Africa.
Nile crocodiles fear nothing due to their wild predatory nature and their extremely fearsome teeth. Additionally, they are the second-largest crocodile species in the world.
