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Bush cricket testicle size clue to promiscuous mating
BBC ^
| 9 November 2010
| Jason Palmer
Posted on 11/10/2010 7:36:39 AM PST by balls
Scientists have found a bushcricket species with testicles that account for up to 14% of its body weight.
It is the animal with the biggest testicles in relation to its body weight, they write in Biology Letters.
In a study of their mating strategies, the team found they release only small amounts of sperm at each mating.
That suggests the big testes are for mating with many females, not producing competitive volumes of sperm for each encounter.
Significant research across the animal kingdom has shown that male testicle size is correlated to the degree of promiscuity within a given species.
The more partners a female has, the larger the male's testicles are likely to be.
Larger testicles produce more sperm, and a long-standing assumption has been that a kind of numbers game is played out within the female to fertilise her eggs.
The male that provides a higher amount of sperm in that scenario has a higher likelihood of fathering offspring.
Many experiments in vertebrate species - including in our closest primate relatives - have borne out that idea.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
TOPICS: News/Current Events
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1
posted on
11/10/2010 7:36:42 AM PST
by
balls
To: balls
I read the headline - thought it was another hit piece on GWB.
To: balls
3
posted on
11/10/2010 7:39:14 AM PST
by
Izzy Dunne
(Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
To: balls
balls? You had to post this dincha?
4
posted on
11/10/2010 7:39:27 AM PST
by
null and void
(We are now in day 659 of our national holiday from reality. - 0bama really isn't one of US.)
To: balls
Let me guess. Gov’t funded study?
5
posted on
11/10/2010 7:39:47 AM PST
by
Marty62
(Marty 60)
To: balls
I’m ever upper class high society
God’s gift to ballroom notoriety
I always fill my ballroom
The event is never small
The social pages say I’ve got
The biggest balls of all
6
posted on
11/10/2010 7:40:01 AM PST
by
null and void
(We are now in day 659 of our national holiday from reality. - 0bama really isn't one of US.)
To: balls
On the day I was born...
Nurses all gathered 'round
They gazed in wide eyed wonder
At the boy they had found
The head nurse spoke up
Said leave this one alone
They could tell right away
I was hung like a stud cricket.
7
posted on
11/10/2010 7:40:36 AM PST
by
runninglips
(Don't support the Republican party, work to "fundamentally change" it...conservative would be nice)
To: balls
Odd name. I would have expected it being named the Clinton Cricket.
8
posted on
11/10/2010 7:40:52 AM PST
by
KarlInOhio
(Dems' response to 11/2: Do not go gentle into that new day,Rage,rage against the coming of the dawn!)
To: balls
Is putting “Bush cricket” instead of “Bushcricket” in this insidious headline a way of the BBC taking one last jab at W.? ... Only the Liberal twits at the BBC can say for sure ...
9
posted on
11/10/2010 7:41:19 AM PST
by
TexGuy
(If it has the slimmest of chances of being considered sarcasm ... IT IS!)
To: balls
Scientists have found a bushcricket species with testicles that account for up to 14% of its body weight. I always wondered what was up with that hat. Not anymore.
10
posted on
11/10/2010 7:42:32 AM PST
by
Dahoser
(Separation of church and state? No, we need separation of media and state.)
To: balls
..reminds me of the South Park episode.
11
posted on
11/10/2010 7:43:18 AM PST
by
Doogle
((USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
To: null and void
12
posted on
11/10/2010 7:43:26 AM PST
by
Irenic
To: balls
Just predicting - this thread will break records ...
To: null and void
Some balls are held for dancing,
And some for fancy dress,
But those that are held for pleasure,
Are the balls that I like best.
14
posted on
11/10/2010 7:44:29 AM PST
by
MortMan
(To Obama "Kill them all and let [God] sort them out" is an abortion slogan.)
To: balls
Can an insect be promiscuous?
This seems like a Leftist approach to the study of insects.
i.e. something they like to identify with - “promiscuous insects”.
15
posted on
11/10/2010 7:45:50 AM PST
by
Berlin_Freeper
(posted a total of 1,600 threads and 9,503 replies.)
To: balls
Scientists have found a bushcricket species with testicles that account for up to 14% of its body weight. Not to worry. Some social justice outfit will fix all that.
16
posted on
11/10/2010 7:46:30 AM PST
by
oyez
(The difference in genius and stupidity is that genius has limits.)
To: balls
17
posted on
11/10/2010 7:46:30 AM PST
by
balls
To: Dahoser
Burst out laughing! Thanks.
18
posted on
11/10/2010 7:47:11 AM PST
by
carpediem365
(sola deo gloria)
To: eCSMaster
19
posted on
11/10/2010 7:47:22 AM PST
by
basil
(It's time to rid the country of "Gun Free Zones" aka "Killing Fields")
To: balls
I thought size didn't matter ....
Just damn ...
20
posted on
11/10/2010 7:47:26 AM PST
by
tx_eggman
(Liberalism is only possible in that moment when a man chooses Barabas over Christ.)
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