Evolution: sex and cannibalism in redback spiders.
Female redback spiders cannibalise mating males. New research has shown they have evolved two separate sperm storage organs, allowing them to make post-copulatory paternity choices. Counter-adaptation by males, to maximise paternity after cannibalism, has led to the evolution of an abdominal constricting mechanism, which enhances short-term survival and mating success after attack by the female and maximises the chances of inseminating both sperm storage sites.
Gage
Matthew J G
MJ
School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK. m.gage@uea.ac.uk
D000220:Adaptation, Biological / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002190:Cannibalism; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D013112:Spiders / Q000502:physiology*