Mammals spend three times as much energy as oviparous ectotherms (species that lay eggs), such as most fish, reptiles and amphibians, and more than double that of viviparous ectotherms, such as some snakes and lizards, whose embryos develop completely in the womb.
Although this is one of the first attempts to quantify the real, physical cost of reproduction in a representative sample of the animal kingdom, the work only calculates the cost up to the moment of the birth or the laying of the eggs.
We did not include the energy costs of postnatal care because there are many ways to quantify it, such as activity patterns, defending the young, cuddling for warmth, explains Sam Ginther, a scientist at Monash University (Victoria, Australia) and lead author of the investigation.
#metabolic-cost-of-reproduction #animal-reproduction-strategies #postnatal-care #energy-expenditure #scientific-research
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