Watch a Male Tarantula Risk Death for Sex
July 12, 2017 -
Courtship between two giant baboon tarantulas comes with the risk of injury and death for the male. This rare video begins with the male shaking his legs, a sign that the tarantulas are preparing to mate. Then, the male approaches cautiously, since many females spiders will eat their partner. The female also could potentially bite into the male's face during mating, which goes to show that tarantula sex can be risky business.
Read "Watch Baboon Spiders Mate in Rare Video."
A wildlife biology student filmed this pair of giant baboon tarantulas in the province of Limpopo, South Africa.
He noticed the male shaking his legs … a sign that the spiders were preparing to mate.
It’s rare to see these tarantulas mate in the wild.
Their mating behavior is often seen only in captivity.
The male is cautious throughout the courtship.
Many female spiders will eat the male after mating.
The male approaches with its front legs in the air, which are covered with protective spines.
He uses his legs to hold off his mate’s fangs from stabbing him in the face.
The male manages to survive the mating … with his face intact.
