predatrice

Predatrice is an Italian gendered noun and adjective meaning "female predator." In scientific and general use, it denotes a female individual that hunts or preys upon other organisms as part of a species’ predation. The corresponding masculine form is predatore, and in many contexts the sex of the animal is unspecified, allowing the gender-neutral predatore to be used when appropriate. The term predatrice derives from Latin praedator, meaning “one who plunders.”

In scientific language, predatrice can be employed to describe female predators across various taxa, from mammals to birds and insects, emphasizing the sex-specific aspect of predation behavior. Outside strictly biological description, predatrice may be used figuratively to refer to a person or entity exhibiting predatory or exploitative behavior toward others.

Cross-linguistic note: the feminine form for the corresponding concept varies by language. In French, the standard feminine of the word for predator is prédateuse, not predatrice. In Spanish, the feminine is predadora. In English, predator is typically gender-neutral. Despite these differences, the core concept remains the same: predation as the act of capturing and feeding on prey, with potential gendered distinctions in some languages.

See also: predation, predator, trophic interactions.