# The Wimpiest Predator??? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 19, 2011, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108 "2011-10-19T04:10:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/1 "2011-10-19T04:10:56Z")
Amongst land animals you could make a good argument that the tiger is the fiercest predator. Able to kill almost anything, and with the disposition to act on it. Or maybe it’s the polar bear. Or the grizzly. etc. In the sea I’d bet it’s the orca or the great white shark. Among the birds probably one of the big raptors. So far, so ordinary. Everybody has a decent idea which critters are the top contenders for predatory ferocity. I’m looking for the opposite. The carnivore who’s \*least \*capable. The species which struggles to subdue a single newborn mouse kit, yet somehow succeeds well enough to reproduce itself & still be with us. For this purpose I’m going to consider insectivores to be non-carnivourous. After all the largest anteater weighs in at ~70kg but eats things which weigh tiny fractions of a gram apiece. Needing to outweight your prey by factors of 10,000x or more to ensure victory in single combat seems a bit beyond the pale. So I’ll disqualify them from this sorta serious, but ultimately silly question. So: Which land, sea, or air critter is the wimpiest carnivorous predator? Mods: Yes, this is ultimately an opinion question and therefore suited for IMHO, but I think you’ll agree the GQ crowd are the folks most likely to have at least semi-informed opinions on the topic. ---
**Author:** ![Astral\_Rejection](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@Astral\_Rejection](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astral_Rejection)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/2 "2011-10-19T04:44:59Z")
Probably some kind of scavenging creature, like a vulture? They like meat, but they generally lack the ability to kill something themselves. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/3 "2011-10-19T04:54:20Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Mods: Yes, this is ultimately an opinion question and therefore suited for IMHO, but I think you’ll agree the GQ crowd are the folks most likely to have at least semi-informed opinions on the topic. I predict that they won’t agree. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/4 "2011-10-19T04:56:03Z")
Given that a large part of what makes lions and tigers and bears (oh my) so dangerous is their size, wouldn’t this just be whatever the smallest predator is? ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/5 "2011-10-19T05:00:40Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’m looking for the opposite. The carnivore who’s \*least \*capable. The species which struggles to subdue a single newborn mouse kit, yet somehow succeeds well enough to reproduce itself & still be with us. If you take weapons out of the mix, humans may be a contender. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/6 "2011-10-19T05:01:20Z")
Per unit weight, a human with no clothing/weapons/tools has to be in the running… ETA: Aaah! Ninjad! ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/7 "2011-10-19T05:09:59Z")
I’d say the cheetah is in the running (intended – I slay me) for the honor. It seems nearly any critter can bully a cheetah out of its kill. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/8 "2011-10-19T05:14:29Z")
Among carnivores, the [Maned Wolf](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maned_wolf) has one of the biggest ratios between its own size and that of its prey. (Excluding vegetarian carnivores like the Giant Panda and insectivores like the Aardwolf.) It’s the largest canid in South America, but mainly feeds on rodents and fruit. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/9 "2011-10-19T05:16:37Z")
Anteater? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/10 "2011-10-19T05:18:01Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Anteater? Excluded in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/11 "2011-10-19T05:18:30Z")
I agree humans - how many people actually dare to kill a mouse? ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/12 "2011-10-19T05:23:26Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > If you take weapons out of the mix, humans may be a contender. And if you take teeth out of the mix, the tiger may be a contender. Fortunately tigers have teeth and humans have weapons. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/13 "2011-10-19T05:24:44Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > I’d say the cheetah is in the running (intended – I slay me) for the honor. It seems nearly any critter can bully a cheetah out of its kill. > **[Redirect Notice](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CDAQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.carnivoraforum.com%2Findex.cgi%3Faction%3Ddisplay%26board%3Dvideo%26thread%3D12663%26page%3D1&ei=pF6eTsulMqS2sQKZ6PWKCg&usg=AFQjCNF-3vJ2G1CF2JS6Owo2DRxzvBwPyg)** Nah, not the cheetah-my vote goes to the hyena. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/14 "2011-10-19T05:30:44Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Nah, not the cheetah-my vote goes to the hyena. In general, hyenas, especially Spotted Hyenas, are one of the most fearsome predators out there. Far from being just scavengers, they will tackle quite large prey and bring it down, and can alos kill lions. Even the smaller Brown Hyena can bully a leopard away from its kill. A cheetah may on very rare occasions win an encounter with a hyena, but usually they are no match especially for a pack. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/15 "2011-10-19T06:19:43Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > In general, hyenas, especially Spotted Hyenas, are one of the most fearsome predators out there. Far from being just scavengers, they will tackle quite large prey and bring it down, and can alos kill lions. Even the smaller Brown Hyena can bully a leopard away from its kill. > > A cheetah may on very rare occasions win an encounter with a hyena, but usually they are no match especially for a pack. Did you watch my link? :dubious: That cheetah took on _three_ hyenas. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/16 "2011-10-19T06:25:59Z")
How about something venomous? In very general terms, venom in predators could be thought of as a way of avoiding an extended, possibly dangerous tussle with the prey. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/17 "2011-10-19T06:41:13Z")
I’m voting for whale sharks. They’re sharks. They’re [huge](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUMUSFLyZpU). And what do they eat? Krill. ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/18 "2011-10-19T06:58:30Z")
as far as i can understand the question, i would say the wimpiest predator is that african snake that feeds solely on ostritch eggs. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/19 "2011-10-19T07:13:51Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m voting for whale sharks. They’re sharks. They’re [huge](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUMUSFLyZpU). And what do they eat? Krill. I’d imagine that’s disqualified for the same reason as the anteater. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2011, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108/20 "2011-10-19T08:00:35Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Among carnivores, the [Maned Wolf](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maned_wolf) has one of the biggest ratios between its own size and that of its prey. (Excluding vegetarian carnivores like the Giant Panda and insectivores like the Aardwolf.) It’s the largest canid in South America, but mainly feeds on rodents and fruit. If we are going to allow omnivores like this into the competition, then we need to include animals such as squirrels or sheep, which are indisputably much wimpier predators than maned wolves. I think this is the problem we are going to keep running up against here. Once an animal becomes an ineffective predators, it is going to necessarily turn to omnivorism. Basically, you can’t survive as a predator if you aren’t very good at it. So any animal that is in the running is almost certainly an omnivore, and once we allow omnivores than we have to let i creatures such as squirrels or deer, since they are indisputably predatory, yet clearly much wimpier predators than any true carnivore. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-wimpiest-predator/600108.md?page=2)