Organism
Mayfly
TL;DR
Mayflies exemplify extreme disposable soma theory - adult mayflies live only 1-2 days, just long enough to mate and lay eggs.
Mayflies exemplify extreme disposable soma theory - adult mayflies live only 1-2 days, just long enough to mate and lay eggs. They have no functional digestive system as adults because they don't need to survive beyond reproduction. Evolution allocated zero resources to post-reproductive maintenance, representing the ultimate expression of reproduction-over-survival allocation.
Notable Traits of Mayfly
- 1-2 day adult lifespan
- No digestive system as adults
- Extreme reproductive allocation