Spid-or-gasm?

[abstract]

Allright - unfortunately I have no pics, but I've been reading some breeding threads and thought of something.

I have never bred myself, but I was over at Botar's house watching him pair a couple of B. Vagans, and saw something interesting.

The female was fighting it for about the first 80% of the experience, but then it was like the male hit her g-spot; she stopped struggling and arched her back ALL THE WAY. She held this position for probably 3 seconds, and then went back to struggling.

Shortly after the male took off. My question is, could this be a spider orgasm? I'm assuming there has to be some sense of pleasure for the spider - as they are accomplishing a biologically ingrained task....

Anyone else noticed any orgasm-like behavior from mating arachnids?

 

[greensleeves]

Originally posted by abstract
The female was fighting it for about the first 80% of the experience, but then it was like the male hit her g-spot; she stopped struggling and arched her back ALL THE WAY. She held this position for probably 3 seconds, and then went back to struggling.

Shortly after the male took off. My question is, could this be a spider orgasm? I'm assuming there has to be some sense of pleasure for the spider - as they are accomplishing a biologically ingrained task....

Hmm, well, I remember reading somewhere that orgasmic contractions in vertebrates may help to increase the chance of conception by drawing the sperm up deeper into the body. Fortunately female orgasm is not necessary for conception or a lot of species, including humans would probably be extinct by now. ;P

But maybe the same is true for spiders? Who knows...

Greensleeves

 

[Code Monkey]

It's dangerous to anthropomorphosize with something who's nervous system is so different than ours. Is it a positive feedback response to the male finally triggering some ingrained behavior, sure, but pleasure? Speculative at best.

My supposition has always been that the pleasure perceived from sex is something that has increased as animals became more and more conscious. The more free will that's involved, the bigger the carrot you need to guarantee certain behaviors.

 

[Botar]

I agree CM, however, it would make sense for even the lower creatures to obtain some sort of "pleasure" from the event in order insure copulation would take place. Aside from that I assume you'd be relying upon instinct for the draw. Since we're pretty weak on instincts, I assume that is why we're higher on the scale for "pleasure".

Botar

 

[chuck]

i doubt its an orgasim
-for pleasure? only humans and dolphins have sex for pleasure
-to draw in sperm? dont they hold onto the sperm untill the moment they release the eggs?

maybe shes just testing the male to see if he is a brave / strong enough male for her to mate with - survival of the fitest

 

[Code Monkey]

Originally posted by chuck
i doubt its an orgasim
-for pleasure? only humans and dolphins have sex for pleasure

Go type Bonobos in a search engine and try to tell me that.

For that matter, check out a young dog humping the couch pillows and try to tell me that.

 

[krucz36]

tell my poor kid. we were at the san diego wild animal park admiring the chimps. now, i don't know if its for pleasure, but those two boy chimps were doin' something that didn't have anything to do with procreation, and they didn't look too upset.

talk about anthropomorphizing tho. facial features are probably the number one aspect people anthropomorphize...smiling dolphins, laughing birds, sad dogs, blah blah blah

as for spider orgasms, i think code has it when he talked about the nervous system on t's, and most arthropods...it's extremely simplistic (i'm talking in broad terms). t's don't even have a brain as such, do they? just the ol' bundle o' nerves, the...ganglia? ganglion? can't remember.

 

[Code Monkey]

Originally posted by krucz36
t's don't even have a brain as such, do they? just the ol' bundle o' nerves, the...ganglia? ganglion? can't remember.

It's debatable. I've seen some authors call what they have a brain, other's ganglia. It's either a very complex central ganglia, or a simple brain. It's even divided into motor and cognitive areas. Whatever you call it, it's not that complex that I'm ready to ascribe much in the way of emotions to them.

 

[MizM]

I agree with CM. Maybe she's just trying to make herself more "accessible" to the male.