Last edited Fri Aug 1, 2025, 10:16 AM - Edit history (1)
http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/09/humans-are-unusually-violent-mammals-but-averagely-violent-primates/501935/
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature19758
(limited access)
Humans: Unusually Murderous Mammals, Typically Murderous Primates
A new study looks at rates of lethal violence across a thousand species to better understand the evolutionary origins of humanity’s own inhumanity.
Ed Yong | Sep 28, 2016 | Science
Which mammal is most likely to be murdered by its own kind? It’s certainly not humans—not even close. Nor is it a top predator like the grey wolf or lion, although those at least are #11 and #9 in the league table of murdery mammals. No, according to a study led by José María Gómez from the University of Granada, the top spot goes to… the meerkat. These endearing black-masked creatures might be famous for their cooperative ways, but they kill each other at a rate that makes man’s inhumanity to man look meek. Almost one in five meerkats, mostly youngsters, lose their lives at the paws and jaws of their peers.
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https://today.duke.edu/2024/12/pups-powerful-meerkat-matriarchs-pay-price-their-moms-status
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In meerkat society a dominant female is in charge. Growling, biting, pushing and shoving to keep others in line, the meerkat queen wields absolute power over her subordinates, who have to help raise her pups.
The matriarch’s bullying behavior is fueled by high levels of testosterone that can surge to twice those of her male counterparts when she’s pregnant.
But while this chemical boost gives her a competitive edge and helps her keep the upper hand, it can also take a toll on the health of her offspring, said Duke professor of evolutionary biology Christine Drea, who co-authored the research with her then-graduate student Kendra Smyth-Kabay.
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I'm pretty sure that naked mole rat queens (?) also achieve and maintain dominance over potential competitors by violence and intimidation.
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