> cant be weeded out by selective pressures since it happens after reproduction
if there was a population that didn't starve after sex, they might out-compete a population that did, say, by passing on learned behavior to their offspring
Their offspring are near microscopic and in vast numbers. A behavior mentoring relationship would be hard
Perhaps if they evolved a stage where the tiny things latched onto the parent for protection from being food, and lived off the parent, then the parent might evolve to produce an edible skin (for tiny octopus) and hang around longer
if there was a population that didn't starve after sex, they might out-compete a population that did, say, by passing on learned behavior to their offspring