Posted on 05/02/2007 11:18:18 PM PDT by BGHater
Some female ducks and geese have evolved complex genitalia to thwart unwelcome mating attempts, according to a new study.
Males of some species, such as mallard, have a notorious habit of "raping" females. They and other wildfowl are among the 3% of bird species whose males have phalluses big enough to insert into the vaginas of females, whether or not the female consents.
Now, in the most detailed analysis yet of duck and goose vaginas, researchers have established that females of these species have evolved vaginal features to thwart unwelcome males.
Tim Birkhead at the University of Sheffield in the UK and colleagues examined vaginas and the corresponding phalluses from 16 wildfowl species. They discovered that the longer and more elaborate the male member, the longer and more elaborate its female recipient was. No-entry signs
Some vaginas had spiral channels that would impede sex by twisting in the opposite direction to that of the male phallus. Others had as many as eight cul-de-sac pouches en route, that could prevent fertilisation by capturing unwelcome sperm. Moreover, these features were only found in species renowned for forced sex. All other species had simple male and female genitalia.
“These structures are wonderfully devious, sending sperm down the wrong road or impeding penetration,” says Birkhead.
(Excerpt) Read more at newscientist.com ...
“Now, in the most detailed analysis yet of duck and goose vaginas”
Why is it I’m CERTAIN these are tax dollars at their worst...???
You know, I’ve been losing sleep for many years worrying about this very problem. Ever since I saw how much MONEY Screwed McDuck had......!!!
WHY did it take SO long...???
Perhaps it was all the feather bedding going on in Universities previously. It makes one wonder how all those Profs REALLY achieved tenure.
I’m figuring now that Hewey, Dewey, and Louie were OBVIOIUS mutants caused by inbreeding.
..who knows....NEXT someone will develop padded migratory bird bras.....!!!
sheesh.
Who on earth sits around and thinks up these studies?
I suppose someone who has completely run out of funding proposal ideas.
But they cynically know that anything that makes the male of any species look as evil as possible will probably be given funding.
And sure enough, someone is getting paid for peeking at Daisy Duck's rape-proof egghatch.
This story was too outlandish for the Onion.
Some female ducks and geese have apparently developed anatomical “C”-blockers.
(Whereas human females still have to bring their homely friend to the bar in order to accomplish this.)
I have a view of an pond that has ducks and geese - too many honestly - from my office. I tell you, in the spring it is like the an X rated version of the Wild Kingdom out there. Squawking, feathers flying, males fighting each other. I am sure I could make a fortune selling the videos on some perverted site out there.
Judging from all the fuzzy little ones walking around now, I’d say the drakes and ganders scored a decisive victory in the battle.
We have a winner!
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