ABSTRACT
The invertebrates are a tremendously diverse assemblage of animals; they form some 30 phyla and are estimated to represent over 95% of all species and individuals of animals living today. If extinct animals are included, this figure exceeds 99%. Intraspecific killing and cannibal ism are widespread. During preparation of this chapter, reports describ ing intraspecific killing and predation for almost 1000 species distrib uted among 11 phyla of invertebrate were encountered. A single chapter on this subject, therefore, cannot be comprehensive. Instead, it high lights some phenomena that occur repeatedly among invertebrates and that generally have received little attention in research on infanticide and related phenomena among vertebrates. It is hoped that this ap proach will stimulate scientists working on infanticide in vertebrates to inspect their particular group for similar phenomena.
