![" "[sic] TIM GOLDIE](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yf2qnafVrwY/TXkMycUx3-I/AAAAAAAAACo/XtUJpgl5yso/s748/CROPPED%2BBASTEL_MG_7353.jpg)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21431678
Sea slug's 'disposable penis' surprises
All sea slugs have complicated mating
behaviour, but Chromodoris reticulata has surprised scientists with its
ability to lose and then re-grow its penis
A sea slug that is able to detach, re-grow and then re-use its penis has surprised scientists.
Japanese researchers observed the bizarre mating behaviour in a species called Chromodoris reticulata, which is found in the Pacific Ocean.
They believe this is the first creature known that can repeatedly copulate with what they describe as a "disposable penis".
The study is published in the Royal Society's journal Biology Letters.
Male and female
The sex life of the sea slug is complicated even before detachable organs come into play.
Continue reading the main story
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I haven't seen anything like this before”
Bernard Picton
National Museums Northern Ireland
Almost all of these creatures,
which are also known as nudibranchs, are thought to be "simultaneous
hermaphrodites". This means they have both male and female sexual organs
and can use them both at the same time.
Bernard Picton, curator of marine invertebrates at the
National Museums Northern Ireland, explained: "The genital apparatus is
on the right hand side of the body. So two nudibranchs come together and
one faces one way and one faces the other way, with the right hand side
of their bodies touching.
"The penis from one fits into the female opening of the other
one, and the penis from that one fits into the female opening of the
first one, if you see what I mean.
"They are both donating sperm to the other one."
But the finding that one species has added another layer of complexity to copulation surprised the sea slug expert.
"I haven't seen anything like this before," he said.
Sexual healing
The Japanese team of scientists observed the animals as they mated
The Japanese team observed sea slugs that they had collected
from shallow coral reefs around Japan. They saw the animals mate 31
times.
The act took between a few seconds and a few minutes, after
which the creatures would push away and shed their penises, leaving them
on the floor of the tank.
However, the researchers were surprised to discover that just
24-hours later, the sea slugs had regenerated their male organs and
were able to mate again.
Closer examination of the animals' anatomy revealed that the
sea slugs had a large part of their penis coiled up in a spiral inside
their bodies, which they would then use to replenish their missing part.
The scientists also noted that the penis was also equipped with spines.
At most, the animals were able to copulate three times in succession, with each bout separated by about 24 hours.
It was not clear whether once the internal penis was used up
after these attempts whether the animal's sex life - at least the male
part of it - was effectively over or whether after a few weeks or months
the organ could re-grow.
No great loss
Sea slugs are not the only animals who abandon their penis.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
They do have very very complicated biology”
Bernard Picton
National Museums Northern Ireland
Orb weaving spiders are known to
lose their male organs after sex, as does a sea creature called the
periwinkle and land slugs belonging to the genus Ariolimax.
However the researchers believe that Chromodoris reticulata is the first creature known that can re-grow its appendage - and its disposable penis gives it a sexual advantage.
The Japanese team says that in the first act of copulation
the penis may be used to remove any sperm left by any competitors that
its partner has mated with.
With the first penis and the rival sperm then abandoned - the
second penis can be used to inject the sea slug with another dose of
its own sperm, ensuring that their genes are the ones that are passed
on.
Mr Picton said: "They do have very, very complicated biology -
and a lot have awfully complicated things in terms of reproduction."
More on This Story
Related Stories
Sea slug's 'disposable penis' surprises
All sea slugs have complicated mating
behaviour, but Chromodoris reticulata has surprised scientists with its
ability to lose and then re-grow its penis
A sea slug that is able to detach, re-grow and then re-use its penis has surprised scientists.
Japanese researchers observed the bizarre mating behaviour in a species called Chromodoris reticulata, which is found in the Pacific Ocean.They believe this is the first creature known that can repeatedly copulate with what they describe as a "disposable penis".
The study is published in the Royal Society's journal Biology Letters.
Male and female
The sex life of the sea slug is complicated even before detachable organs come into play.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
Bernard Picton National Museums Northern IrelandI haven't seen anything like this before”
Almost all of these creatures,
which are also known as nudibranchs, are thought to be "simultaneous
hermaphrodites". This means they have both male and female sexual organs
and can use them both at the same time.
Bernard Picton, curator of marine invertebrates at the
National Museums Northern Ireland, explained: "The genital apparatus is
on the right hand side of the body. So two nudibranchs come together and
one faces one way and one faces the other way, with the right hand side
of their bodies touching."The penis from one fits into the female opening of the other one, and the penis from that one fits into the female opening of the first one, if you see what I mean.
"They are both donating sperm to the other one."
But the finding that one species has added another layer of complexity to copulation surprised the sea slug expert.
"I haven't seen anything like this before," he said.
Sexual healing
The Japanese team of scientists observed the animals as they mated
The act took between a few seconds and a few minutes, after which the creatures would push away and shed their penises, leaving them on the floor of the tank.
However, the researchers were surprised to discover that just 24-hours later, the sea slugs had regenerated their male organs and were able to mate again.
Closer examination of the animals' anatomy revealed that the sea slugs had a large part of their penis coiled up in a spiral inside their bodies, which they would then use to replenish their missing part.
The scientists also noted that the penis was also equipped with spines.
At most, the animals were able to copulate three times in succession, with each bout separated by about 24 hours.
It was not clear whether once the internal penis was used up after these attempts whether the animal's sex life - at least the male part of it - was effectively over or whether after a few weeks or months the organ could re-grow.
No great loss
Sea slugs are not the only animals who abandon their penis.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
Bernard Picton National Museums Northern IrelandThey do have very very complicated biology”
Orb weaving spiders are known to
lose their male organs after sex, as does a sea creature called the
periwinkle and land slugs belonging to the genus Ariolimax.
However the researchers believe that Chromodoris reticulata is the first creature known that can re-grow its appendage - and its disposable penis gives it a sexual advantage.The Japanese team says that in the first act of copulation the penis may be used to remove any sperm left by any competitors that its partner has mated with.
With the first penis and the rival sperm then abandoned - the second penis can be used to inject the sea slug with another dose of its own sperm, ensuring that their genes are the ones that are passed on.
Mr Picton said: "They do have very, very complicated biology - and a lot have awfully complicated things in terms of reproduction."
Related Stories
- James Wood and Abigail Zara Parry like this.
James Wood I nearly posted this...can u imagine when these things finally walk on land all the penises u will have to dodge...it's already bad enough!
Victimoth Goldie Abject Bloc "James Wood: I nearly posted this...can u imagine when these things finally walk on land all the penises u will have to dodge...it's already bad enough!" Ha haaaaaaaaa!!!!!! I already dodged a few bird peni this morning!
- Victimoth Goldie Abject Bloc In 1982 my friend had a dream his glans helm piece fell off and rolled down a hill. I made 1000 casts of mine painted them matt black and stuck the suckakakazzz all over this pub in Sheffield like little parasitic beings air vents extractor fans under tables on the optics dartboard toilets etc etc etc and all over the bill boards trees lamp posts birds nest etc outside grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!Check under yr collar, coccyx and perineum right now we are here we are home we are legion.
