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There isn't any species-level survival function necessary. A "species" is just a set of genes.
The murderous male's genes are "superior" by evolutionary definition (i.e., better at passing on). And the general existence of whatever species is serving as the premise of this thought experiment only exists because each member had ancestors which also were able to pass on their genes.
Step-father infanticide is not the thing that is hard to explain. The cases which require explanation are the members of a species which behave in ways not directly related to their personal reproduction.
Permalink Sun, 01 Jul 2012 20:25:40 UTC | #948402