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PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
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Category: Evolution • Reproduction • Science
Posted on: September 5, 2006 9:48 AM, by PZ Myers
Carl Zimmer is one kinky dude—he has a new article on sexual cannibalism in the NY Times, and his expansion on the topic in his blog is also darned interesting, focusing on the scientific duels fought over adaptationism and exaptations in explaining the phenomenon.
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Comments
Mister Tentacle Sex calls *me* kinky? Uh oh.
Posted by: Carl Zimmer | September 5, 2006 10:18 AM
It's always the quiet, buttoned-down ones, you know...
Posted by: PZ Myers![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/nav-commenters.gif)
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September 5, 2006 10:39 AM
I wouldn't want to be the spider who leaves his equipment behind. That seems a little single use to me.
Posted by: jim | September 5, 2006 11:50 AM
Apparently, mantids' reproductive scheme is based on an old joke:
Q. How would you describe the perfect lover?
A. A man who's tender, romantic, sexy, handsome, clever, funny, in great shape, capable, attentive, can go as long as you need, enthusiastic, imaginative, and just when you think it couldn't get any better, he turns into a pizza.
Posted by: Molly, NYC | September 5, 2006 11:59 AM
Are there any examples of sexual cannibalism in other major newspapers?
Posted by: Graham | September 5, 2006 12:02 PM
I read Zimmer's article while insomniac at 4am this morning. Can't say it did much for my dream-state when I finally got back to sleep! :-p
Posted by: Lukku Cairi | September 5, 2006 12:07 PM
One interesting thing I learned recently, on a related topic, is that slugs sometimes get their male bits stuck during the mating process. The solution? Bite it off!
Lucky for them, they're hermaphrodites and can go on to have children by other slugs who still have outies to go with their innies.
Posted by: Joshua | September 5, 2006 12:16 PM
Joshua, that's only with banana slugs...
Though, with some sea slugs, like the horned sea slug pictured in the article, sometimes the connection misses, and one of them turns around to eat up what was spilled, as a proteinaceous consolation prize.
Posted by: Stanton | September 5, 2006 2:02 PM
Dear Sir,
I am glad to hear that your commentators disapprove of the last post as strongly as I. As a journalist I abhor the implication that the New York Times is a haven for sexual cannibalism. It is well known that we now have the problem relatively under control, and that it is the Washington Post who now suffer the largest casualties in this area. And what do you think the embeds ate in Basra. Arabs?
Yours etc.
Captain B.J. Smethwick in a white wine sauce with shallots, mushrooms and garlic.
Posted by: Captain B.J. Smethwick | September 5, 2006 2:11 PM
As someone who is a vegetarian AND who has dated a lot of loser guys over the past year, this article leaves me conflicted.
PS PZ - I knew you'd come up with a kicker headline!
Dawn
Posted by: Dawn O'Day | September 5, 2006 2:42 PM
"article on sexual cannibalism in the NY Times"
I've always been interested in sexual cannibalism in the animal kingdom- but in the NYT! Wow. Leave it to the liberal media...
Posted by: SpringHJ | September 5, 2006 8:58 PM
Lesson: do not date Ann Coulter.
Praying mantis with long blonde wig, habitually bites people's heads off, obviously hungry.
Posted by: sara | September 5, 2006 9:45 PM
I found the article unbalanced. Getting eaten is a danger of mantis sex, but it is probably rare in nature.
The male mantis who lives in my blackberry bushes had a female visitor yesterday. I didn't see any sex acts, just some jumping and fumbling. Later in the afternoon, he was alone and sunning himself as usual.
The sunning may be his way of advertising his availability. As a nymph he generally stayed out of sight on the underside of the leaves.
Posted by: hexatron | September 5, 2006 9:57 PM
Kinky? Carl Zimmer is one scary dude. I'm sure I'd find it fascinating, but I just can't work up the nerve to read Parasite Rex. Just entirely too creepy. I can see someone pulls a gun on Carl. He says "Have you heard about Sacculina? Well, let me tell you what it does. ..." [ FX: guy sreaming and running away unevenly because he has his fingers in his ears ].
Posted by: Mike | September 6, 2006 12:52 AM
One interesting thing I learned recently, on a related topic, is that slugs sometimes get their male bits stuck during the mating process. The solution? Bite it off!
They don't do it just when it's stuck. Here, watch:
http://bio.research.ucsc.edu/grad/weaver/Pages/project.html
Posted by: truth machine | September 6, 2006 3:47 AM
I hereby award a First in Applied Pythonology to Captain B.J. Smethwick. Now put down that leg.
Posted by: xebecs | September 6, 2006 11:14 AM