Friday, 30 November 2018

Add a Dash of Spider Milk

Scientists in China claim to have identified a jumping spider that produces nutritious 'milk' for its spiderlings (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/29/scientists-discover-spider-species-that-feeds-its-young-milk).Although we normally associate milk production with Mammals, other species, e.g. pigeons, produce 'crop milk'. Consequently, the idea of producing body secretions to give one's offspring a helping start is, perhaps, more widespread than was earlier thought. Some species even donate their bodies to their progeny (they get eaten).

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