Post-Coital Fatigue Can Be Deadly for ...

... Squids, which are exhausted by 3-hour sex marathons
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 21, 2012 3:52 PM CDT
Sex Romps Leave Squid Dangerously Fatigued
This squid looks pretty tired.   (Shutterstock)

Luckily most of us don't have to hunt for food or dodge predators right after mating. But squids aren't so lucky, and strenuous sex romps leave them exhausted for about half an hour, the New Zealand Herald reports. Researchers in Australia studied the "southern dumpling squid" and saw just how pooped they were after their typical sex encounter with multiple partners for up to 3 hours.

"We predict that during this phase of muscle fatigue, squid may hide in the sand to avoid predators until they have recovered," said Amanda Franklin, a researcher at the University of Melbourne. "The cost to them in doing this of course is that they cannot forage for food or search for other mates at this time." Squid sex—in which the male grabs the female from below and holds on tight—is so strenuous that it may even shorten their lifespans, said Franklin. (More squid stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X