preys

Prey refers to an organism that is hunted and consumed by another organism, called a predator. In ecological usage, the term prey functions as both singular and plural, but the form preys is uncommon as a noun; it appears as the third-person singular of the verb prey on, as in "the predator preys on small mammals."

Prey and predators form integral parts of food webs. Predator–prey interactions influence population sizes, species distributions, and community dynamics. Changes in prey availability can affect predator abundance, while pressure from predators can drive evolutionary adaptations in prey, such as improved camouflage, alertness, or reproductive strategies.

Prey employ a variety of defenses: rapid movement, camouflage, schooling or flocking to reduce individual risk, chemical or aposematic coloration, and specialized armor or spines. Some prey also exploit cryptic behavior or temporal changes to avoid detection.

Humans study prey–predator dynamics to understand ecosystem health, manage wildlife and pests, and inform conservation. Overexploitation, habitat loss, and introduced predators can disrupt these dynamics, with cascading effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Notable prey groups include small mammals, insects, fish, and herbivorous vertebrates. Common predators include carnivores, birds of prey, and large fish in various ecosystems.