Differences Between Predator vs. Prey

To understand the differences between predators vs. prey, we need to know their relationship. Predators are living beings that hunt other organisms, which are known as prey. While these terms can be used to refer to a wide variety of organisms, they are most often associated with the animal kingdom. The main purpose of predators killing prey is survival, as prey animals provide a transfer of energy in the form of food. This ecological interaction is known as ‘predation’. Predation can take place when an animal actively hunts, but it can also include organisms that feed on other living organisms in less obvious ways.

When many of us think of this relationship between animals, we think of apex predators that have no predators themselves. This is only one form of predation. Predators by definition need to eat other animals, but some are strictly carnivorous while others are largely omnivorous. These latter types of predators may eat plant as well as animal matter. The same animal may occupy different roles depending on what it eats and what other animals are present in its habitat.

Animals that eat only plants are known as herbivores. While it may seem unlikely, there are also plants which are considered predators. This is evident in plants such as the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula), a carnivorous plant which traps insects for consumption. Some researchers even consider parasites as types of predators since they feed on the tissues or cells of their hosts as a predator feeds on prey.

The relationship between prey and predator plays an important role in population dynamics of ecosystems. Without predators, prey populations may grow, affecting the plants and other resources they depend on. Regulation also works in the same way, since the number of prey can influence the number of predators. These relationships are not always simple, as changes in habitat and the availability of food can affect both populations.

Characteristics of predators

While the diversity between various types of predator organisms is great, there are certain characteristics which are shared among most predators. They include the following:

• Highly developed senses: such as smell, vision or hearing, sometimes capable of recognizing prey from miles away. These senses help predators locate prey, even when it is hidden or active at night.
• Developed structure: their body structure often needs to be more agile than their prey, with muscles capable of traveling long distances or reaching high speeds. They may have heavy bodies which can be used to subdue their prey. They often have sharp claws and teeth to tear their prey. Some even have toxic venom which is used to paralyze and/or kill their prey.
• Attractive to their prey: some predators lure their prey to be able to catch them more easily. This is the case with carnivorous plants which often attract insects which think they can use them as food. Other predators use camouflage or remain still, reducing the chance that prey will notice them.

Characteristics of prey

Prey also have adaptive characteristics to defend themselves from their predators. They include:

• Camouflage capacity: thanks to which they can go unnoticed in their surroundings. Colors can also serve as a warning, with bright colors or patterns indicating to predators that they may be in danger if they are harmed. Some prey animals change their behavior or use shelter to avoid being seen.
• Eyes on the sides of their head: in many species, this positioning allows them to better see their surroundings and remain on alert for predators. Their behavior is usually more alert and nervous than predators, so they are ready to run in case of a threat.
• Mechanical defense structures: these are physical adaptations against predators such as sharp spines or even armor plates made of keratin.
• Chemical defenses: some organisms produce a toxin which can be used as self-defense against certain predators. Even some plants are poisonous to prevent themselves being eaten. In some animals, warning colors help predators recognize that these chemicals may make them unpleasant or dangerous to eat.

Another important difference between a predator vs. prey is their population numbers. It must be taken into account that the number of prey animals is also important. Prey populations are often larger than predator populations, since predators depend on them for food and each predator needs to consume many prey animals over time.

Discover a very specific type of predator with our article explaining the different types of piscivorous animals.

In order to better understand the differences between predators vs. prey, we should look at the interactions between them. Below we are going to provide some examples of these relationships.

Boa constrictor and vertebrates

The boa constrictor is a species of snake native to South America. It has been introduced to other ecosystems, where it can cause serious losses of wild biodiversity due to its predatory nature. It does not have a specific prey, but takes advantage of the vertebrate animals it can find, whether mammals, birds or reptiles.

Boa constrictor snakes do not have venom. Instead, they use their heavy bodies and coiling ability to suffocate their prey. They often hunt at night and can use heat-sensitive scales around their mouths to detect warm-blooded animals. In addition to their arboreal behaviors, this nocturnal activity allows them to catch animals such as bats. Their flexible diet helps them take advantage of prey that is available in their surroundings.

Stinking corpse lily and flesh flies

Rafflesia is a genus of giant exotic flowers of intense red color that can reach a meter in diameter. They are commonly known as stinking corpse lilies because they simulate a dead animal by giving off an intense aroma of putrefaction. This scent attracts flesh flies, which are drawn to decomposing meat and can help pollinate the flowers as they move between them. Unlike a carnivorous plant, Rafflesia does not swallow the flies; it depends on a host plant for nutrients and is unable to photosynthesize. This example shows how a plant can attract an animal without being its predator.

Canada lynx and snowshoe hare

The case of the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) and the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) is an excellent example to help understand the role the relationship between predator and prey plays in population dynamics.

The Canada lynx feeds mainly on snowshoe hares. It has been observed that lynx populations are in greater abundance when there are more snowshoe hares available as prey. When hare populations become seriously depleted, lynx may consume other animals, such as foxes or deer, although these can be harder to capture and may not be available in sufficient numbers. The result is a decline in lynx populations, which can recover when hares become abundant again. The changes in each population do not always happen at the same time, since prey numbers can rise or fall before predator numbers respond.

Learn about the different types of lynxes in our related guide.

Even some of the most powerful or vicious predators might be consumed by other animals. When we find a predator that has no other predators of its own, we are faced with an apex predator. These are animals at the top of the food chain, and they help define the nature of this food system more than most others. This is because they regulate other plant and animal species within their ecosystem, whether directly or indirectly. Their influence can extend beyond the animals they hunt, since changes in predator numbers can affect other parts of the food web.

Generally speaking, apex predators are large in size, although this is relative. They are carnivorous, and some examples are the following:

Sperm whale

The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is a marine mammal that weighs up to 50 tons. Its diet is proportional to its size and consists mainly of squid, including giant cephalopods, as well as other marine animals. These animals can live at great depths, since the sperm whale can dive deeper than any other mammal. To find their prey they use echolocation, producing clicks and interpreting the returning echoes. These clicks help them locate prey in the dark ocean. In fact, the sperm whale is considered the largest toothed predator that has ever existed.

Learn more about predators using soundwaves to catch prey with our article on what animals use echolocation?

Jaguar

One of the most recognizable big cat species, the jaguar (Panthera onca) is the top predator of neotropical forests. It is an excellent predator thanks to its speed, ability to approach prey stealthily and heavy legs with sharp claws used to kill efficiently. Its spotted camouflage helps it ambush its prey, rather than chase them like other big cats. Jaguar prey include deer, armadillos, crocodiles, snakes, cattle, fish, turtles and even frogs. In addition, it has a distinctive lethal technique among felines: it can deliver a powerful bite through the skull of its prey.

Golden eagle

The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) has several subspecies with a relatively wide population distribution range. It has excellent vision, which it uses to glide high in the sky in search of prey. These are often mammals such as rabbits, as well as various other animals and fish. When it opens its wings, its wingspan can measure up to 2 m, and it uses a precise dive to catch prey. Its sharp talons help grip and kill prey, allowing it to take animals that may be much heavier than smaller birds can manage.

Discover more about one of the ocean's most prolific and efficient predators with our article on whether killer whales are dangerous to humans.

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