Predator
Contents
Key Stage 2
Meaning
A predator is an animal that hunts and kills other animals to eat.
About Predators
- Predators usually have sharp teeth, claws or beaks.
- Many predators have eyes at the front of their head to give them good vision of their prey.
- An Animal that is eaten by a predator is called prey.
- A predator can also be prey. For example a cat hunts and kills mice, but a cat might be hunted and killed by a fox.
Examples
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| In this food chain the tree is a plant so it cannot be a predator or prey. The rhinoceros is prey because it gets hunted by the lion. The lion is a predator because it hunts the rhinoceros. |
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| In this food chain the grass is a plant so it cannot be a predator or prey. The grasshopper is prey for the baboon. The baboon is the predator of a grasshopper, but the baboon is also the prey of the cheetah. The cheetah is the predator of the baboon. |
Key Stage 3
Meaning
A predator is an animal that hunts and kills other animals to eat.
About Predators
- Some predators are top carnivores which means no other animal eats them.
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A predator is a consumer that hunts and kills other consumers for nutrition.
About Predators
- A predator may be a secondary, tertiary or quaternary consumer.
- Predators eat animals that are in a lower trophic level.
- Some predators are apex predators which means no other consumer hunts them.
Beyond the Curriculum
References
AQA
- Predators, introduction of, pages 79-80, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA
- Predators, page 109, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Predators, page 263, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Biology, CGP, AQA
- Predators, page 323m GCSE Biology, CGP, AQA
- Predators, page 86, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Predators, pages 238-9, 241, GCSE Biology, Hodder, AQA
- Predators, pages 264-265, 271, 276-277, GCSE Biology; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA