Kleptoparasitism:
Kleptoparasitism means parasitism by theft. What is parasitism? Parasitism is when an organism benefits at another organism expense. Kleptoparasitism is used in different ways e.g. bullying other organisms to give up their food they just caught, and steal collected or stored food. This way of obtaining food normally saves the kleptoparasite hunting time and also gives them the chance of food they might not be able to catch themselves. A negative part with using this as a feeding technique is the risk of injuries. Bullying someone to give up their food put you in the direction of their claws, beaks or teeth. [Ocean Adventures]
I’m not sure I would have used the word ‘use’, above. Kleptoparasitism is a behavior, not a tool, although sometimes distinguishing between the two is problematic.
Noted in “Jackals seen stealing kills from lynx as they expand range in Europe,” Josua Rapp Learn, NewScientist (14 May 2022, paywall):
According to new research, [golden] jackals have been seen scavenging carcasses of deer killed by lynx in southern Slovenia. While the evidence is limited at this point, it shows the first recorded incidents of kleptoparasitism — the act of stealing food — against lynx in Europe by jackals.
And a quick nod of provisional nominative determinism to Mr. Learn. Thank you.
