What came first, the prey, or the predator?

Question

life balances itself by having predators control their prey's amount, but what came first? I am talking about the evolution of animals, not the work of God.

Answer 1

Every species evolves in its environment, and that environment includes all the other species present. So evolution is a dynamic process, where what happens with one species affects what happens with others.

A predator and its prey are engaged in an arms race.  Slow zebras get eaten, and slow lions starve.

Herbivores came before carnivores, since otherwise the carnivores wouldn't have had anything to eat.

Answer 2

Had to have been the prey. What would the predator have eaten?

Unless you consider plants prey and herbivores predators.  ;-p

Answer 3

There can be no prey without a predator; nor can there be a predator without prey.  Therefore, logically, both prey and predator categories arose when the prey/predator relationship began.

Since there are single-celled protists that feed on other single-celled organisms, I think that the prey/predator relationship evolved before multicellular organisms did.

Answer 4

Why can't they come at the same time? There was not only one species evolving. If there was, everything would be an interbred. There's so many different species of animals and the starting animal of that specific evolution. So, the predator and prey came together.

Answer 5

Prey.  The first living things on Earth made their own food by photosynthesis, or some process similar.  Much later something came along that could eat these primary producers.  Just look at any good detailed food chain.

Answer 6

if you look at the animals of Australia you can see how one species of Marsupial developed into many species, including some that became predators. So I would conclude that the prey came first

Answer 7

they came together because evolution is a myth and is propagated by deception. Those who are against God believe in it despite all its missing links and flaws. Cuz if they dont believe in it. There is nothing else like a fairy tale that they can explain for the origin of life.

Answer 8

I say prey. I mean. I think they are essential...kinda. Then came the predators, then they started eating some of the prey. Interesting Question.