A Mother's Last Gift: Animals That Die After Giving Birth
Scorpions
Scorpions are one of the few animals that die after giving birth. During this period, the female may stop feeding and eventually die, providing nutrients to her offspring through cannibalistic feeding.
Octopus
Most octopuses are semelparous, which means they reproduce only once in their lifetime. Once the eggs hatch, the female octopus usually dies shortly afterward due to exhaustion.
Social Spiders
Social spiders live in large groups and cooperate in order to build and maintain their webs. These spiders typically die soon after they mate and produce offspring.
Salmon
After spawning, most female salmon undergo physiological changes that result in their death within a few weeks.
Praying Mantis
Praying mantises are one of the animals that die after giving birth. After the female mantis lays her eggs, she dies soon afterwards.