Comments on: A "Sadistic" Spider's Unusual Mating Habits Are Tough on the Female http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/30/a-sadistic-spiders-unusual-mating-habits-are-tough-on-the-female/ Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Me http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/30/a-sadistic-spiders-unusual-mating-habits-are-tough-on-the-female/#comment-8151 Me Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:20:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/30/a-sadistic-spiders-unusual-mating-habits-are-tough-on-the-female/#comment-8151 Common name: Rape Spider. Common name: Rape Spider.

]]> By: Sara http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/30/a-sadistic-spiders-unusual-mating-habits-are-tough-on-the-female/#comment-8150 Sara Tue, 12 May 2009 21:15:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/30/a-sadistic-spiders-unusual-mating-habits-are-tough-on-the-female/#comment-8150 Looking forward to a follow up Looking forward to a follow up

]]> By: carmen http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/30/a-sadistic-spiders-unusual-mating-habits-are-tough-on-the-female/#comment-8149 carmen Sat, 02 May 2009 13:40:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/30/a-sadistic-spiders-unusual-mating-habits-are-tough-on-the-female/#comment-8149 so thats what the belly button is for. so thats what the belly button is for.

]]> By: andrew http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/30/a-sadistic-spiders-unusual-mating-habits-are-tough-on-the-female/#comment-8148 andrew Fri, 01 May 2009 18:34:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/30/a-sadistic-spiders-unusual-mating-habits-are-tough-on-the-female/#comment-8148 I like the occasional bout of rough sex, but this is ridiculous. I like the occasional bout of rough sex, but this is ridiculous.

]]> By: andrew http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/30/a-sadistic-spiders-unusual-mating-habits-are-tough-on-the-female/#comment-8147 andrew Fri, 01 May 2009 18:29:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/30/a-sadistic-spiders-unusual-mating-habits-are-tough-on-the-female/#comment-8147 ... "If the behavior is the reproducive standard in the species," ... If you remember, in the article it stated "Typically, male spiders insert their sperm into that receptacle." (So this behaviour isn't the standard, not for this spider species, and defintely not for the species in general). You go on... ..."then it is possible the female reproductive structures or behavior are also adapted to (or perhaps the driving force behind) the male process of insemination." From the article... "However, the spermatheca is a “last in, first out” structure, so that if any further males inseminate a female, the last mate’s sperm is the first in line to fertilise an egg" So, you're correct, the female reproductive structure is one of (if not the main) causes for this strange sexually behavior. Are you sure you read the article? … “If the behavior is the reproducive standard in the species,” …

If you remember, in the article it stated “Typically, male spiders insert their sperm into that receptacle.” (So this behaviour isn’t the standard, not for this spider species, and defintely not for the species in general).

You go on…
…”then it is possible the female reproductive structures or behavior are also adapted to (or perhaps the driving force behind) the male process of insemination.”

From the article…
“However, the spermatheca is a “last in, first out” structure, so that if any further males inseminate a female, the last mate’s sperm is the first in line to fertilise an egg”

So, you’re correct, the female reproductive structure is one of (if not the main) causes for this strange sexually behavior.

Are you sure you read the article?

]]> By: E Lushynn http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/30/a-sadistic-spiders-unusual-mating-habits-are-tough-on-the-female/#comment-8146 E Lushynn Fri, 01 May 2009 03:25:49 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/04/30/a-sadistic-spiders-unusual-mating-habits-are-tough-on-the-female/#comment-8146 I am constantly annoyed by scientists (or their interpreters) who equate fortitous evolutionary devices with intent. Just because this particular reproductive design and behavior impart immediate reproductive advantage does not mean that "the H. sadistica male can ensure that his sperm gets to the egg"; inferring some kind of godlike sperm-navigating power. If the behavior is the reproducive standard in the species, then it is possible the female reproductive structures or behavior are also adapted to (or perhaps the driving force behind) the male process of insemination. The fact that the "researchers did not try to determine how this unusual mating system affected the females" is proof enough for me that this particular research effort was half...*cough*...baked. I am constantly annoyed by scientists (or their interpreters) who equate fortitous evolutionary devices with intent. Just because this particular reproductive design and behavior impart immediate reproductive advantage does not mean that “the H. sadistica male can ensure that his sperm gets to the egg”; inferring some kind of godlike sperm-navigating power. If the behavior is the reproducive standard in the species, then it is possible the female reproductive structures or behavior are also adapted to (or perhaps the driving force behind) the male process of insemination. The fact that the “researchers did not try to determine how this unusual mating system affected the females” is proof enough for me that this particular research effort was half…*cough*…baked.

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