Some flatworms, for instance these pretty Pseudobiceros hancockanus, engage in penis fencing. Both individuals are hermaphrodites, i.e., have both male and female organs. The penis is white, pointed and two-headed. Both individuals are trying to inseminate the other. The one who is inseminated has to bear and lay eggs - a more expensive proposition. The one who "won" the fencing bout and did the insemination can move on and fence some other guys and on and on, "fathering" many progeny until happenning onto a better fencer, getting inseminated, and spending the rest of the life as "mother".
Search
Profile
My scientific specialty is chronobiology (circadian rhythms and photoperiodism), with additional interests in comparative physiology, animal behavior and evolution. I am not an MD so I cannot diagnose and treat your sleep problems. As well as writing this blog, I am also the Online Discussion Expert for PLoS. This is a personal blog and opinions within it in no way reflect the policies of PLoS. You can contact me at: Coturnix@gmail.com
Buy the 2009 Science Blogging Anthology:
Buy the 2008 Science Blogging Anthology:
Buy the 2007 Science Blogging Anthology:
Buy the 2006 Science Blogging Anthology:
Recent Posts
- New URL for this blog
- New URL/feed for A Blog Around The Clock
- A Farewell to Scienceblogs: the Changing Science Blogging Ecosystem
- Open Laboratory 2010 - submissions so far
- Clock Quotes
- Clock Quotes
- Clock Quotes
- Clock Quotes
- New and Exciting in PLoS this week
- ScienceOnline2010 - interview with Anne Frances Johnson
Recent Comments
- wildanr on A Farewell to Scienceblogs: the Changing Science Blogging Ecosystem
- yogi-one on A Farewell to Scienceblogs: the Changing Science Blogging Ecosystem
- Alvaro on A Farewell to Scienceblogs: the Changing Science Blogging Ecosystem
- Chris Surridge on A Farewell to Scienceblogs: the Changing Science Blogging Ecosystem
- Claudia Koltzenburg on A Farewell to Scienceblogs: the Changing Science Blogging Ecosystem
- Joerg Kurt Wegner on A Farewell to Scienceblogs: the Changing Science Blogging Ecosystem
- Peter McGrath on A Farewell to Scienceblogs: the Changing Science Blogging Ecosystem
- Sandra Porter on A Farewell to Scienceblogs: the Changing Science Blogging Ecosystem
- cfeagans on A Farewell to Scienceblogs: the Changing Science Blogging Ecosystem
- Barn Owl on A Farewell to Scienceblogs: the Changing Science Blogging Ecosystem
Archives
- July 2011
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
Blogroll
Find me on...
Make Me Happy
Add Scienceblogs to your Technorati Favorites!
Make Me Solvent
I Support
Bloggie Stuff
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
« Animalia | Main | The Political Brain »
Friday Weird Sex Blogging - Penis Fencing
Category: Friday Weird Sex Blogging • Sex
Posted on: June 30, 2006 9:59 AM, by Coturnix
TrackBacks
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://scienceblogs.com/mt/pings/9289
-
Friday Ark #94 from Modulator
We'll post links to sites that have Friday (plus or minus a few days) photos of their chosen animals (photoshops at our discretion and humans only in supporting roles). Watch the Exception category for rocks, beer, coffee cups, and....? We will add you... Read More
Tracked on July 7, 2006 3:15 AM
Comments
for real, 'hancockanus'? it strains one's capacity for belief...
why oh why is there not a video?
Posted by: r@d@r | June 30, 2006 5:02 PM
I wonder how that behaviour would combine with the morphology of the New Zealand multivirile flatworm - 220 odd penises either side would make for some interesting fights
Posted by: David Winter | July 1, 2006 3:22 AM
Yup, scientists have a sense of humor and often use it when naming species.
David, thank you - that one goes into my folder of ideas for future installments of Friday Weird Sex Blogging.
Posted by: coturnix | July 1, 2006 12:22 PM