It's a man's world, allegedly.
Sexual cannibalism is a special case of cannibalism in which a female organism kills and consumes a conspecific (same species) male before, during, or after copulation. Premating cannibalism has been considered as a foraging decision, a by-product of natural selection for aggressiveness and even a case of mistaken identity. Some sexual cannibalism might be a matter of the female regarding her suitor as more acceptable as a meal than a mate. But cannibalism and mating are not mutually exclusive behaviors and many times the male is devoured post-coitus.
By becoming food for the stronger sex, males forfeit any future mating opportunities. Sexual cannibalism is favored by natural selection when it significantly increases the viable eggs fertilized by the cannibalized male's sperm. This model only applies to situations in which cannibalism occurs after sperm transfer. For males, sexual cannibalism may have evolved as an extreme form of paternal investment. If a male's sacrifice significantly increases the quality or quantity of his offspring, sexual cannibalism could be an adaptive male strategy rather than the result of a conflict of interest between the sexes.[1][8]
Males of sexually cannibalistic species use diverse strategies to decrease their chances of being cannibalized. Male scorpions sometimes sting females while depositing their spermatophore. Male black widows and crab spiders often restrain females in silk prior to copulation. Some spiders have specialized jaws that hold open the jaws of females during copulation. Others preferentially mate with females in ecdysis (that is, while the female is molting) when cannibalism is physically impossible. Some male spiders, particularly nursery web spiders, bring the female a diversionary meal and attempt to complete copulation before the female completes the offering. Some spiders and mantids delay their courtship approach until a female catches another prey item.
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_cannibalism
I blame the culture of sexual cannibalism and foodification of males that's encouraged by television, magazines, and video games.
By becoming food for the stronger sex, males forfeit any future mating opportunities. Sexual cannibalism is favored by natural selection when it significantly increases the viable eggs fertilized by the cannibalized male's sperm. This model only applies to situations in which cannibalism occurs after sperm transfer. For males, sexual cannibalism may have evolved as an extreme form of paternal investment. If a male's sacrifice significantly increases the quality or quantity of his offspring, sexual cannibalism could be an adaptive male strategy rather than the result of a conflict of interest between the sexes.[1][8]
Males of sexually cannibalistic species use diverse strategies to decrease their chances of being cannibalized. Male scorpions sometimes sting females while depositing their spermatophore. Male black widows and crab spiders often restrain females in silk prior to copulation. Some spiders have specialized jaws that hold open the jaws of females during copulation. Others preferentially mate with females in ecdysis (that is, while the female is molting) when cannibalism is physically impossible. Some male spiders, particularly nursery web spiders, bring the female a diversionary meal and attempt to complete copulation before the female completes the offering. Some spiders and mantids delay their courtship approach until a female catches another prey item.
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_cannibalism
I blame the culture of sexual cannibalism and foodification of males that's encouraged by television, magazines, and video games.
posted by Tristan Tzara at 6:35 AM
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