Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Antechinuses engage in suicidal reproduction, a biological phenomenon called semelparity that has been observed in other marsupial species, like kalutas.

From New York Times • Jan. 25, 2024

The best-known examples of semelparity come from insects and arachnids: Female black widow spiders are known for sometimes fatally biting males after mating, hence the name “widow.”

From Scientific American • Feb. 13, 2020

In addition to making semelparity less disadvantageous, releasing such a massive quantity of eggs helps to ensure that a species highly prone to predation can have enough offspring mature to adulthood to perpetuate the population.

From Scientific American • Feb. 13, 2020

Although male kalutas have exhibited semelparity in captivity, this was the first time it had been seen in the wild.

From New York Times • Aug. 28, 2019

Suicidal reproduction or semelparity is well known in many species of plants and fish but is rare in mammals.

From BBC • Oct. 8, 2013