[neilep (OP)]

Dear Peeps,

See Reginald here ?

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He's a cheeky little scamp !

Reginald is  a rat sized Australian  Antechinus marsupial who literally shags himself to death over a two week frenzy of multiple upon multiple copulations with as many girlie Atechninus as he possibly can.

Reg is so pumped up with adrenalin and the need to procreate that for the full two weeks he does not eat or drink or sleep at all !!.....Reg literally does shag himself to death !!!....from sheer and total exhaustion !

This mating strategy is called polyandry and it serves to save the girly from selecting the best male to do the deed with.

Incredibly, research seems to demonstrate that the sperm of such virile males can actually out-compete that of lesser males in the race to girly eggy joy !!

What I'd like to know is ....is this behaviour brought on by the females ?....and if so.........does this mean that if isolated, the males would live longer...albeit not making progeny ?...it must tie in with a mating season yes ?


whajafink ?


Neil
Antechinus Asker Abouter

mwah mwah mwah mwah
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[RD]

This behaviour can be explained by the gene-centered view of evolution, (a.k.a. "selfish gene")...
 

"selfish" meaning that promotes its own survival without necessarily promoting the survival of the organism, group or even species.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene-centered_view_of_evolution

Genes can reproduce at the expense of the organism

There are other times when the implicit interests of the vehicle and replicator are in conflict, such as the genes behind certain male spiders' instinctive mating behaviour, which increase the organism's inclusive fitness by allowing it to reproduce, but shorten its life by exposing it to the risk of being eaten by the cannibalistic female.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Selfish_Gene#Genes_can_reproduce_at_the_expense_of_the_organism

PS
Bonobo chimps have to be contenders for the title of "The Most Sexual Animal In The World"...

The Bonobo, which has a peaceful, egalitarian and matriarchal society, is a fully bisexual species — both males and females engage in sexual behaviour with the same and the opposite sex, with females being particularly noted for engaging in sexual behaviour with each other and at up to 75% of sexual activity being bisexual. Bonobos often use sexual activity to prevent violence and conflict.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-human_animal_sexuality