I'm surprised that I haven't seen this information shared before as it is 6 years old... there is a study on Brachypelma albopilosa - based on the "free radical theory of ageing". Describing the changes observed in males chemically & biologically, that may contribute to them living a considerably shorter life, after their 'final' moult.
Most of the time people give fairly basic answers to this question, such as "a males only purpose is to breed, and spread his genes".
However, that is the same for males of many species, even humans. Our intrinsic purpose as a species, is to reproduce. But there isn't a massive difference between male and female life expectancy in humans, but obviously we are a much more complicated biological model.
Having said that, even in humans oxadative stress is one the proposed factors for the difference in life expectancy between sexes.
This can also be applied to Tarantulas, this study has shown that. Due to males being more active thus having a higher metabolic rate, inducing higher reactive oxygen species production, without adequate antioxidant protection - this significantly reduces the life expectancy of males.
Paper is here:
https://www.researchgate.net/public...n_the_Male_Mygalomorph_Brachypelma_albopilosa
The paper isn't too hard to digest, usually a quick google can explain terms or phrases you aren't familiar with.
Most of the time people give fairly basic answers to this question, such as "a males only purpose is to breed, and spread his genes".
However, that is the same for males of many species, even humans. Our intrinsic purpose as a species, is to reproduce. But there isn't a massive difference between male and female life expectancy in humans, but obviously we are a much more complicated biological model.
Having said that, even in humans oxadative stress is one the proposed factors for the difference in life expectancy between sexes.
This can also be applied to Tarantulas, this study has shown that. Due to males being more active thus having a higher metabolic rate, inducing higher reactive oxygen species production, without adequate antioxidant protection - this significantly reduces the life expectancy of males.
Paper is here:
https://www.researchgate.net/public...n_the_Male_Mygalomorph_Brachypelma_albopilosa
The paper isn't too hard to digest, usually a quick google can explain terms or phrases you aren't familiar with.
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