Sunday, January 22, 2006

Penis fencing - A new Olympic sport?

I think not.

Penis fencing flatwormFrom Sydney Australia comes the story of a new species of flatworm which is a member of a group of predators known as oyster leeches.  This creature, found in Sidney’s Botany Bay, and called Imogine Iateotentare, is one of the simplest organisms known to man. University of South Wales scientists Emma Johnston, Ka-Man Lee and Michel Beal have been studying the organism in a laboratory watching it. 

The creatures have both male and female parts and engaged in a sexual practice somewhat like penis fencing.

To reproduce they try to stab each other with their genitals and the first to penetrate inserts sperm and then goes on to spar with another flatworm. The "loser" lays and broods the eggs.

The findings are published in the Journal of Natural History.

Read article.

More on the penis fencing flatworm, including a video of it mating can be found on the PBS website.

via

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