Male redback spiders exhibit self-sacrificial mating behaviour
Male redback spiders engage in a peculiar mating behavior called a 'self-sacrificial somersault' that essentially invites the female to cannibalize them after reproduction. New research has identified the genetic basis behind this counterintuitive behavior, offering insights into why males would voluntarily participate in their own demise for the opportunity to mate.
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Male redback spiders invite cannibalism through a ‘self-sacrificial somersault’ during sex – but why?
Male redback spiders engage in a peculiar mating behavior called a 'self-sacrificial somersault' that essentially invites the female to cannibalize them after reproduction. New research has identified the genetic basis behind this counterintuitive behavior, offering insights into why males would voluntarily participate in their own demise for the opportunity to mate.
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