Cannibalism is a common phenomenon, observed in different animal species and maternal cannibalism can be defined as consumption of offspring by the female parent. It can divided into two types again: First being consumption of nonviable offspring (eggs, undeveloped ova or stillborn neonates) and second being that of living offspring. This phenomenon can be observed in numerous animals and most common examples are reptiles. But what makes female reptiles eat their non viable offspring’s???

Two popular hypotheses exist: The first hypothesis states that this behavior is a form of parental care. Cannibalism may eliminate chemical cues that could attract predators or prevent the spread of fungi and diseases to healthy eggs. According to second hypothesis, maternal cannibalism helps to recycle otherwise wasted energy, facilitating maternal recovery and prepares it to reproduce once again. The second hypotheses differ from first one as In this case, the fitness benefit of maternal cannibalism helps the parent rather than to the living offspring.

To get more insights into this aspect of maternal cannibalism scientists from Spain, USA and Mexico produced the first quantitative description of cannibalism among female rattlesnakes (Crotalus polystictus) after monitoring 190 reptiles involving 239 clutches of eggs.

Rattle snake consumes non viable section f its offspring , which will help cannibal rattlesnake female to recover lost energy for reproduction without having to hunt for food, a dangerous activity that requires time and expends a great deal of energy. Researchers believe that cannibalism is “not an aberrant behaviour, and is not an attack on the progeny, as it does not eat live ones as it can distinguish between dead and live offspring. It simply recovers some of what the snake invested in the reproduction process, and prepares it to reproduce once again.

Reference:
Cannibalism of nonviable offspring by postparturient Mexican lance-headed rattlesnakes, Crotalus polystictus
Estrella Mociño-Deloya, Kirk Setser, Juan M. Pleguezuelos, Alan Kardon and David Lazcano
Animal Behaviour , Volume 77, Issue 1, January 2009, Pages 145-150

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