(ZRC SAZU) Researchers from Slovenia and South Africa have discovered heterospecific mating in Nephila spiders, and have published their findings on Nov. 15, 2016 in the journal Scientific Reports. Heterospecific mating means sexual encounters between males and females of different species. Such sexual interactions in arachnids are rare, and generally not expected in cannibalistic animals such as spiders. They could play an important role in determining the community structure of Nephila, possibly through reproductive interference.
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Story Source: Materials provided by Scienmag
