英国广播公司报道,据发布在英国皇家学会《生物学通讯》杂志上的报告称,日本研究者发现,太平洋中一种名为“Chromodoris reticulata”的海参能够丢弃、再生、重新使用其阴茎。研究者称其阴茎为“一次性阴茎”。他们认为,它是第一种能使用“一次性阴茎”交配的已知生物。
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.
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 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 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 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 - after a few weeks or months - the organ could regrow.
No great loss
Sea slugs are not the only animals who abandon their penis.
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."
少坐多运动 一定会更长寿吗
小米聘谷歌前高管拓展印度市场
乞力马扎罗山普通登山者激增 健康风险极大
全球收入最高的五大黑帮
数学证明热气球吓跑猪 英农民获赔4万英镑
有你真好 自闭症女孩和猫咪医生
美国玫瑰公主出炉 华裔女孩邵霞入选
真•“大”闸蟹 英国惊现15米巨蟹
美德三人荣获2017诺贝尔化学奖
李克强总理在中欧论坛汉堡峰会第六届会议上的主旨演讲(双语全文)
新型游艇 来自未来的海上之“星”
如何专心睡眠 当我们的思维停不下来的时候
加利福尼亚发布美国首个全州限塑令
比伯曝童年照 粉丝直呼太萌不敢看
闻香识人心 出轨者最常用10款香水
挪威”首例“童婚惹争议:12岁萝莉”嫁“37岁大叔
美国老外热爱普通话 倾心于教育事业
“这是性犯罪”:詹妮弗•劳伦斯首次回应艳照泄露事件
美国夫妇给两岁儿子喝酒被逮捕
亚马逊将开第一家实体店 引爆新模式
美国老人捡零钱 2万美元捐助流浪猫
罪犯也懂文化 懂经济的索马里海盗
研究发现,怀旧有益身心健康
网络争斗 如何让互联网更开放
10个坏习惯:让你更健康更快乐更成功
冲锋的福尔摩斯 卷福出演BBC历史剧
健康生活:心理治疗究竟靠谱吗?
诺贝尔奖金牌被安检误认违禁物品
测试:你属于男性大脑还是女性大脑
超市里暗藏的那些“潜规则”
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |