10 Fascinating Animals That Eat Their Mates After Mating

Praying Mantis: Female mantises tend to bite off the head of their mate during mating. It provides her with nutrients and might also enhance his reproductive chances. (Image: Canva)

Black Widow Spider: Name given, the black widow will occasionally kill and devour the male after copulation. He's merely a swift snack for the dominant female. (Image: Canva)

Australian Redback Spider: Males flip into the jaws of the female when mating. It's a willing sacrifice, perhaps enhancing his prospects for fertilising more eggs. (Image: Canva)

Fishing Spider: Male fishing spiders can be eaten after mating. But the female will lay additional eggs, so the sacrifice is worth it biologically in some sense. (Image: Canva)

Jumping Spider: Female jumping spiders pounce on the males during mating in some species. Males attempt to flee—but many do not survive. (Image: Canva)

Sagebrush Cricket: During mating, the female consumes the male's wings. This strange snack provides protein, which allows her to lay more eggs. (Image: Canva)

Scorpion: Although rare, some female scorpions eat their mates following copulation—particularly when there is a suitable food shortage. (Image: Canva)

Orb-Weaver Spider: Males are tiny and frequently won't make it through copulation. If they stick around too long, they become lunch. (Image: Canva)

Flatworms: In certain species, both individuals breed while attempting to stab each other with a mating needle. The loser gets the choice of being eaten or left behind. (Image: Canva)

Sand Tiger Shark: Though not cannibalism of a mate, siblings are consumed by embryos while in the womb. It's ruthless from the beginning with sand tiger shark reproduction. (Image: Canva)