In the animal kingdom, reproduction is the first task of survival.
In order to accomplish this mission, the males are really racking their brains and doing whatever it takes.
From the barbed tintin of a cat, to the spiral genitalia of a duck, to the double genitalia of a shark, the strange designs in nature are eye-opening for humans.
Next, let's explore the amazing genital structures in the animal world and see how they "desperately" to reproduce!
Barbed weapons for felines
When you think of cute kittens, the first thing that comes to mind is their soft coat and docile personality.
But you probably don't know that under their cute appearance, there is actually a "assassin" hidden.
That's right, the male cat's genitals are covered with barbs. And these barbs, usually when cats are 6 months old, have begun to develop, and they are also an important weapon for their reproduction.
So, what exactly are these barbs on the tints?
First, they stimulate ovulation in female cats.
Most people may not know that cats are ovulation-inducing animals, and they need to be stimulated by mating in order to actually ovulate.
The presence of barbs greatly increases this irritation, which fundamentally increases the chance of conception.
Secondly, the barb can also clean up the semen left by other male cats in the female cat's body.
You know, cats are not monogamous.
In order to ensure that their genes can be passed on, the male cats can be regarded as doing their best.
Finally, these barbs also increase friction and prevent female cats from escaping during mating.
After all, the whole process only takes 3 seconds, and if the cat is not careful, it may be wasted.
Although this kind of natural design seems a bit "cruel", it is indeed a very effective reproduction strategy when put into natural selection.
Duck's spiral "corkscrew"
If you think that the cat's barbs are amazing enough, then the duck's "screw opener" will definitely completely subvert your cognition.
That's right, the male duck's genitals are spiral-shaped, like a peculiar corkscrew.
Moreover, their length can also reach half the height of a duck, or even longer!
So, how did this strange creature design come about?
In fact, it all starts with the "arms race" between male ducks and female ducks.
In the world of ducks, forced mating is a common occurrence.
But to avoid this, the mother duck has naturally evolved a complex spiral-shaped reproductive tract with multiple sac-like structures that can store semen.
In this way, even if they are forced to mate, the mother duck can choose whether to let the sperm and egg bond.
But in the face of this situation, the male duck is certainly not to be outdone.
They turned their heads and evolved spiral-shaped genitalia to fit the female duck's reproductive tract.
The most interesting thing is that the male duck's genitals rotate counterclockwise, while the female duck's reproductive tract rotates clockwise.
This natural design not only increases the success rate of mating, but also gives an advantage in the highly competitive breeding season.
I have to say that the design of nature is really magical.
Shark's two-pronged approach
After talking about the animals on land, let's take a look at the owner of the "big killer" in the ocean - sharks.
The reproductive organs of sharks, called symphyllaces, are also known as pinnipeds.
Interestingly, sharks have two sympathes!
This is because they evolved from the pelvic fins, which tend to occur in pairs.
However, sharks will only use one of them when mating.
But which one to use depends on the relative position of the male and female sharks. For example, if the male shark is on the right side of the female, the right conjunct process will be used.
And when mating, the male shark will also bite the female shark's pectoral fin with his mouth to fix the position.
Usually in order to withstand this "loving bite", the skin of the female shark becomes thicker and thicker as she matures sexually.
But even so, after mating, the female shark will still leave a lot of "traces of love".
Dolphin's multifunctional "artifact"
Speaking of marine animals, we have to mention, dolphins, known as "bear children of the sea".
Not only are they smart and cute, but they are also "wonderful" even when it comes to reproduction.
It can be said that the genitals of dolphins are the most flexible in the world.
Because of their pink "little brothers", they can not only curl and elongate, but can even grasp objects like hands.
Of course, this flexibility is also designed to accommodate the complex reproductive tracts of the female.
Moreover, dolphins do not just mate for the purpose of breeding.
In plain life, they also often organize "multi-fish sports" and even catch other fish as "toys".
This absurd behavior has also made dolphins one of the most "absurd" animals in the ocean.
The snake's two-pronged approach
The snake's reproductive organs, called the hemipenis, are a "V-shaped" double reproductive organ.
They usually hide behind the cloaca on the belly of the snake's tail, and only when mating do they really show up.
Like sharks, snakes will only use one half of the penis when mating.
But this design, which increases the success rate of mating, also adapts to the body structure of the snake.
Interestingly, lizards are similar to snakes in that they also have a semi-penis.
It seems that among reptiles, this design is quite common.
Mallet with "bones".
Speaking of peculiar genitals, we have to mention some, mammalian "bone dings".
That's right, you heard it right. Some mammals do have a bone in their genitals called the penile bone.
This bone exists independently, at the end of the genitals, and is not connected to other bones.
Animals with this "bone dingding" include canines, raccoons, walruses, and most primates except humans and spider monkeys.
In reality, the role of this bone is to ensure the hardness and durability of mating.
For example, at the end of mating, dogs will appear in a state of "locking", which can even last for about 20 minutes.
This not only prevents the invasion of other males, but also greatly increases the success rate of conception.
Interestingly, this bone has special cultural significance in some regions.
Like, in the "venom magic" of the southern United States, the raccoon's penis bone is seen as a talisman of love and luck.
And in Alaska, the penile bones of walruses were even made as tourist souvenirs.
postscript
From the barb of a cat, to the spiral of a duck, from the two-pronged approach of a shark to the flexible "artifact" of a dolphin, the genitals of the animal kingdom can be described as diverse.
But these peculiar designs are all designed to increase the success rate of reproduction.
In the long process of evolution, animals have racked their brains in order to pass on their ancestors.
These seemingly strange, even somewhat "cruel" designs are actually the result of natural selection, and they are the best choices made by life in order to continue.
Resources
[1] Life is short, but snakes are long: Why do snakes have two penises?
[2] SEX in the SEA