11 Of The Most Bizarre Animal Mating Behaviours In The World
All animals are biologically programmed to ensure the survival of their species by reproducing successfully. However, not all animals mate and breed in the same way. Many animals engage in elaborate rituals to attract the attention of a mate, some have intercourse in seemingly unconventional ways, and others make use of unique reproductive organs. Here are eleven of the most bizarre animal mating behaviors from around the world.
Disposable Males
Argonauts, a species of octopus, are unique sea creatures that live inside a protective shell. Male argonauts grow to be only a couple of centimeters in length while female argonauts, on the other hand, are around twenty times their size. Because of this difference in size, argonauts have to get creative when it comes to reproducing. Male argonauts have a mind-boggling way of doing this; to successfully mate, they throw a tiny, modified arm-penis containing sperm (known as a hectocotylus) at the female partner. This small external organ then wiggles its way inside the female sac containing her organs to fertilize her eggs. Male argonauts soon die after launching their hectocotylus and mating with a female.
Sperm-Releasing Arm
The sex rituals of male octopuses have stunned scientists because they differ from those of other cephalopods. Other breeds of octopus also usea uniquearm to fertilize female eggs. Female octopuses can safely store male sperm packets inside of their bodies until they are ready to lay eggs. The reproductive organ in a female octopus is inside her body, but a male octopus inserts his mating arm into the female from a distance. Because most female octopuses are cannibals, having sex from a distance is ideal for the male because it gives him a chance to escape and avoid being eaten he's done the deed. In addition to their larger size, female octopuses are typically hungrier than male octopuses. Therefore, there is always a risk that rather than reproducing, they will strangle their partner to death and eat him instead.
Killer Marathon Sex
The antechinus is a small, mouse-like marsupial. Male antechinuses are not afraid of death. In fact, they are willing to give up their life just to pass on their genes and create a new generation. Male antechinuses take mating so seriously that when they have sex, they copulate almost continuously for two to three weeks until they die of exhaustion. During these weeks, they run around the forest from mate to mate and have sex with each one for up to fourteen hours straight. Mating with so many different partners takes such a toll on male antechinuses that their immune system crashes because of a massive release of hormones, their fur starts to fall out, and they bleed internally. As a result, female antechinuses are left alone to raise their offspring.
Sexual Cannibalism
Pleasing a female praying mantis is not easy, especially because there is a constant risk of being killed. To impress the female and convince her to mate, a male mantis first needs to show off some slick dance moves. If the female mantis thinks his skills are good enough, she will let him copulate with her. But if he fails to impress her, she will not hesitate to eat him on the spot. In either case, the female mantis may choose to chew the head off her male partner to increase her fertility and ensure the survival of her species. Although sexual cannibalism may seem cruel, it indirectly benefits male mantises by increasing their investment in offspring. A female mantis tends to lay more eggs if she engages in sexual cannibalism with a male.
Sword Penis
Bedbugs mate through a brutal practice known as traumatic insemination. Only this time, the males win. The hypodermic penis of this pesky parasite is as sharp as a sword and males use it to stab their female partners in the abdomen and deposit their sperm into the dead body cavity. Some male bedbugs use spikes to stop their female partners from getting away. Bedbugs also engage in penis fencing, wherein hermaphrodites fight over who gets to stab the other first in the abdomen. According to research, female bedbugs have a spongy reproductive organ, called a spermalege, that acts as a self-defense mechanism to reduce the harm inflicted by the stabbing.
Penis Chewing
Banana slugs are the world's second largest species of slugs; they are also hermaphrodites! These slugs typically live in damp forests and eat a variety of foods, including animal waste, plants, rotting fruits, and other banana slugs. They begin their mating ritual by releasing a slime containing an active pheromone, which lets other slugs know they are ready for copulation. Interested mates eat the slime, and when they are ready to reproduce, the slugs mutually insert their penises, which grow out of their heads and are as long as their bodies, into each other. After mating, they are known to chew their penises off.
Homosexual Behaviour
Scientists have discovered that male bottlenose dolphins engage in same-sex acts. This homosexual behavior is common considering these dolphins are known to live in all-male groups. The exact reason for this behavior is still unknown, but scientists believe social bonding is a key factor. Male bottlenose dolphins often create deep relationships with other males and regularly spend quality time together even after their mating season has ended. In comparison, male dolphins tend to behave violently toward females. When a female dolphin is present, the male dolphins form a group and single her out. If she attempts to swim away, they scratch her with their teeth, slap her with their fins, and belly-flip her into submission.
Mating Balls
Garter snakes, also known as Thamnophis sirtalis, are not dangerous to humans even though they have a mild, necrotic venom. They typically reach sexual maturity at the age of two years and exhibit an odd mating habit. Every spring, male snakes assemble inside caves to create what scientists call a mating ball. When a female garter snake comes out of hibernation, all the male snakes gather around to woo her. Every male snake has his own trick to copulate with the female successfully; some discharge a female pheromone to deceive and distract other males them from mating with the real female garter snake. To reproduce, a male garter snake needs to court the female by maintaining as much contact with her as possible and warding off other males to get the deed done.
Love Darts
Similar to banana slugs, snails are hermaphrodites. They have holes called genital pores that provide access to both the female and male reproductive organs. Mating begins when two snails approach and stroke each other with their tentacle for hours at a time. Next, they launch pointy calcium structures at one another. These so-called 'love darts' remain attached to the shooter for several minutes so the snails can unite. Researchers claim that snails pierce their partners to improve the chances of fertilizing eggs chemically. If a snail is successful, the mucus that is loaded with chemicals will enter its partner’s bloodstream, creating babies.
Preference For Orgies
The sole responsibility of male bees is to copulate with the queen. These males know when the queen is ready to have sex because she flies into a crowded area that is full of male drones who want to mate with her. While mating, each male bee has a special moment with the queen bee in mid-air. Afterwards, he falls to the ground and dies. Even if there are thousands of drones, the queen bee has sex with only approximately twelve to fourteen male bees. A queen bee's body is capable of storing the sperm for the rest of her life and using it only when it is needed to fertilize eggs. As a result, a queen bee can decide never to mate again, if she so chooses.
No Penis
The reproductive anatomy of most birds is different from that of most mammals. Instead of having external genitals, many male birds have a cloaca. A cloaca is a three-in-one body structure used to urinate, defecate, and reproduce. When male birds are ready to breed, their cloacas swell and protrude slightly outside of their body, releasing sperm. They gently rub the swollen cloaca on their female partner, whose cloaca is also enlarged. This action allows the sperm to swim into the ovaries and fertilize the female's eggs. For birds, courtship typically lasts longer than the actual act of mating.
