Among the most disturbing reproductive strategies in the animal world, that ofmajor indicator (Indicator Indicator), a small African bird who earned the nickname “Baby killer”. This volatile, related to i peaks and belonging to the family of Indicatoridideveloped highly specialized behavior of Parasitism of Covaa practice that provides for the deposition of one’s egg in the nest of another speciesusually the small gruccione (MEROPS PUSILLUS).
But what makes the biggest indicator really surprising is the violence of his nidiacean. When the egg hatches, the small parasite – still blind and unable to thermoregulation – awaits the hatching of the guest’s eggs and then Eliminate their half brothers one by one.
It does so hitting repeatedly with the beakendowed with the birth of two Sharp hooks who disappear with growth. It is enough a few minutes for the predatory newborn to kill the other chicks, which often agonize for hours on the bottom of the nest.
In over 50% of cases, the pair of grusts leave the nest
This lethal behavior is made possible by a series of evolutionary adaptations. The incubation of the editor’s egg is shorter (15-17 days) than that of Gruccione (18-20 days) and Start before the depositionthanks to a sort of internal incubation. The small indicator therefore was born in advance and manages to grab all the care and food of the adoptive parents, who do not notice deception.
Despite the apparent efficiency of this strategy, it is not risk without risk. In beyond the 50% of casesthe couple of crab identifies the intruder and leave the nesta clear sign of coevolution between parasite and guest. The extreme specialization of the indicator could therefore represent a Blind evolution alleyan ancient adaptation that today limits its reproductive flexibility.
This story, worthy of the darkest thriller, shows how the natural selection can generate brutal behaviors, far from the romantic vision of nature. The plumme baby killer, with its murderous instinct from birth, is an emblem of the ruthless evolutionary logic who regulate the animal world.
