A biological relationship where an organism steals food or other resources directly from another organism rather than catching its own.
Greek kleptein (to steal) + biosis (way of living). Scientific term created in the 20th century to precisely describe parasitic behavior focused on resource theft rather than direct bodily parasitism.
Some frigatebirds are professional thieves—they chase other seabirds until they drop their fish, then catch it in mid-air—and their entire lifestyle is called cleptobiosis, nature's organized crime.
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