What evolutionary strategy is suggested by the male dragonfish's non-feeding existence and parasitic attachment to the female?

Answer

An evolutionary pressure where mate-finding is difficult, conserving energy for the female's survival

The extreme division of labor exhibited by the sexual dimorphism in dragonfish speaks volumes about the evolutionary pressures of the deep sea. The female is highly specialized for predation and long-term survival in a food-scarce environment. The male, conversely, has a fleeting, simple existence focused solely on locating and fusing with a mate; he lacks feeding structures and has a short lifespan, sometimes attaching parasitically. This implies that finding a mate is an exceptionally difficult task in the vast, dark ocean, and the male's inability to consume resources is an adaptation to ensure that the energy required for the female's lengthy survival and reproductive cycle is not depleted by a non-essential secondary feeder.

What evolutionary strategy is suggested by the male dragonfish's non-feeding existence and parasitic attachment to the female?

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