allomaternal care
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Virgin Velvet Spiders Allow Themselves To Be Eaten By Their Foster Kids
Spiders are typically thought of as solitary creatures that don’t partake in social pleasantries unless it has something to do with mating. But as new research shows, the African velvet spider is an exception to this rule. Mother spiders are assisted by closely-related virgin females who, in addition to engaging in child-rearing tasks, offer themselves…