In the animal kingdom, mating can be a fatal act. Species like the male antechinus and certain octopuses engage in reproduction that leads directly to their death, a strategy evolution favors to maximize gene transfer.
For the antechinus, the breeding season involves such intense, prolonged mating that stress hormones destroy their immune system, causing lethal organ failure.
This “suicidal reproduction” ensures they put every ounce of energy into a single chance at fatherhood.
Similarly, male praying mantises are sometimes eaten by females post-coitus. This sacrifice provides the female with essential nutrients to support the developing eggs, proving that in nature, the survival of the offspring often outweighs the life of the parent.
