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Fasel NJ, Jeucken J, Kravchenko K, Fritze M, Ruczyński I, Komar E, Moiseienko M, Shulenko A, Vlaschenko A, Christe P, Glaizot O, Holtze S. Mating without intromission in a bat. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R1182-R1183. [PMID: 37989092 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Copulatory behaviours stand as cornerstones of sexual selection, yet they remain mysterious in many species. Because of their nocturnal and elusive lifestyle, the copulatory behaviours of bats have been mostly overlooked1. Several aspects of bat reproduction differ from other mammals (e.g. prolonged sperm storage2, delayed development3). Here, we show that in serotine bats (Eptesicus serotinus) the penis is used as a 'copulatory arm' rather than an intromittent organ, revealing a novel copulatory behaviour in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas J Fasel
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Jan Jeucken
- Stichting De Laatvlieger, 5961 TP Horst aan de Maas, Netherlands
| | - Kseniia Kravchenko
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center, Ukraine of the NGO "Ukrainian Independent Ecology Institute", 61001 Kharkiv, Ukraine
| | - Marcus Fritze
- German Bat Observatory, 13599 Berlin, Germany; Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany; Competence Center for Bat Conservation in Saxony-Anhalt, Karst Landscape South Harz Biosphere Reserve, 06536 Südharz, Germany
| | - Ireneusz Ruczyński
- Mammal Research Institute of Polish Academy of Sciences, Stoczek 1, 17-230 Białowiez˙a, Poland
| | - Ewa Komar
- Mammal Research Institute of Polish Academy of Sciences, Stoczek 1, 17-230 Białowiez˙a, Poland
| | - Marharyta Moiseienko
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Alona Shulenko
- Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center, Ukraine of the NGO "Ukrainian Independent Ecology Institute", 61001 Kharkiv, Ukraine
| | - Anton Vlaschenko
- Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center, Ukraine of the NGO "Ukrainian Independent Ecology Institute", 61001 Kharkiv, Ukraine; Bat Biology Laboratory, H.S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University, Institute of Natural Sciences, 61168 Kharkiv, Ukraine; National Scientific Center 'Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine', Pushkinska Street, 83, Kharkiv 61023, Ukraine
| | - Philippe Christe
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Glaizot
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Zoology, State Museum of Natural Sciences, 1014 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Susanne Holtze
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, 10315 Berlin, Germany.
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2
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Moore BC, Brennan PLR, Francis R, Penland S, Shiavone K, Wayne K, Woodward AR, Does MD, Kim DK, Kelly DA. Glans inflation morphology and female cloaca copulatory interactions of the male American alligator phallus†. Biol Reprod 2020; 104:374-386. [PMID: 33112370 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The phallic glans of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is the distal termination of the semen-conducting sulcus spermaticus and during copulation has the closest, most intimate mechanical interactions with the female urodeum, the middle cloacal chamber that contains the opening to the vaginal passages and oviducts. However, the details of this interface leading to insemination and gamete uptake are unclear. Here, we: (1) histologically characterize the underlying tissue types and morphologically quantify the shape changes associated with glans inflation into the copulatory conformation, (2) digitally reconstruct from MRI the 3D shape of functional tissue compartments, and (3) diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography image the copulatory fit between male phallus and female cloaca. We discuss these results in relation to tissue type material properties, the transfer on intromittent forces, establishing potential copulatory lock, inflated glans volume scaling with body mass/length, the mechanics of semen targeting and insemination, and potential female cryptic choice impacting multiple clutch paternity. In part, this study further clarifies the phallic morphological variation observed among crocodylians and begins to investigate the role(s) these divergent male forms play during copulation interacting with female cloacal forms to increase reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon C Moore
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Biology Department, Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, USA
| | | | - Rachel Francis
- Biology Department, Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, USA
| | - Samuel Penland
- Biology Department, Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, USA
| | - Kelsie Shiavone
- Biology Department, Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, USA
| | - Kathryn Wayne
- Biology Department, Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, USA
| | - Allan R Woodward
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Mark D Does
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Dong Kyu Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Diane A Kelly
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA, USA
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3
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Nasoori A. Formation, structure, and function of extra-skeletal bones in mammals. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:986-1019. [PMID: 32338826 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This review describes the formation, structure, and function of bony compartments in antlers, horns, ossicones, osteoderm and the os penis/os clitoris (collectively referred to herein as AHOOO structures) in extant mammals. AHOOOs are extra-skeletal bones that originate from subcutaneous (dermal) tissues in a wide variety of mammals, and this review elaborates on the co-development of the bone and skin in these structures. During foetal stages, primordial cells for the bony compartments arise in subcutaneous tissues. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition is assumed to play a key role in the differentiation of bone, cartilage, skin and other tissues in AHOOO structures. AHOOO ossification takes place after skeletal bone formation, and may depend on sexual maturity. Skin keratinization occurs in tandem with ossification and may be under the control of androgens. Both endochondral and intramembranous ossification participate in bony compartment formation. There is variation in gradients of density in different AHOOO structures. These gradients, which vary according to function and species, primarily reduce mechanical stress. Anchorage of AHOOOs to their surrounding tissues fortifies these structures and is accomplished by bone-bone fusion and Sharpey fibres. The presence of the integument is essential for the protection and function of the bony compartments. Three major functions can be attributed to AHOOOs: mechanical, visual, and thermoregulatory. This review provides the first extensive comparative description of the skeletal and integumentary systems of AHOOOs in a variety of mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Nasoori
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan
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4
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Jubilato FC, Comelis MT, Bueno LM, Taboga SR, Góes RM, Morielle‐Versute E. Histomorphology of the glans penis in Vespertilionidae and Phyllostomidae species (Chiroptera, Mammalia). J Morphol 2019; 280:1759-1776. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda C. Jubilato
- Department of Zoology and BotanyInstitute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences (IBILCE), Campus São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State University (UNESP) São Paulo Brazil
| | - Manuela T. Comelis
- Department of Zoology and BotanyInstitute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences (IBILCE), Campus São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State University (UNESP) São Paulo Brazil
| | - Larissa M. Bueno
- Department of Zoology and BotanyInstitute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences (IBILCE), Campus São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State University (UNESP) São Paulo Brazil
| | - Sebastião R. Taboga
- Department of BiologyInstitute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences (IBILCE), Campus São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State University (UNESP) São Paulo Brazil
| | - Rejane M. Góes
- Department of BiologyInstitute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences (IBILCE), Campus São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State University (UNESP) São Paulo Brazil
| | - Eliana Morielle‐Versute
- Department of Zoology and BotanyInstitute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences (IBILCE), Campus São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State University (UNESP) São Paulo Brazil
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Comelis MT, Bueno LM, Góes RM, Taboga S, Morielle-Versute E. Morphological and histological characters of penile organization in eleven species of molossid bats. ZOOLOGY 2018; 127:70-83. [DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2018.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 01/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Moore BC, Spears D, Mascari T, Kelly DA. Morphological characteristics regulating phallic glans engorgement in the American alligator. Integr Comp Biol 2016; 56:657-68. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icw012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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