Swiss study reveals secret of bat’s huge penis
Published: Tuesday, Nov 21st 2023, 16:40
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Swiss researchers have solved the mystery surrounding the disproportionately large penis of a bat species. According to a new study, the penis is used for sexual intercourse without penetration.
The research team from the University of Lausanne and the Natural History Museum Naturéum in Lausanne thus demonstrated for the first time the ability of a mammal to reproduce without inserting the penis, according to the study published on Monday evening in the journal "Current Biology".
The broad-winged bat (Eptesicus serotinus) is a large insectivorous bat found in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. His team had long noticed that the animal had "an extremely long penis in an erect state", biologist Nicolas Fasel from the University of Lausanne told the AFP news agency.
Compared to the size of the female's vagina, the erect penis is seven times longer and seven times wider at its heart-shaped tip, making classic mating impossible, said Fasel. As mating is difficult to observe in the nocturnal bats, the researchers were faced with a puzzle.
Mystery solved thanks to pensioner
The solution came by email from pensioner Jan Jeucken from the Netherlands. He was interested in a group of broad-winged bats living in the attic of the village church and recorded their activities with specially installed cameras. When he saw the video attached to Jeucken's email, he immediately realized that he "had the answer", said biologist Fasel.
According to observations, the males rather mount the female on her back, as many other mammals do, and use his long penis like an arm to bypass the flight skin, with which the female can protect her genital tract. This is followed by a long motionless embrace, also known as "contact mating", during which the male's sperm is transferred. In the broad-winged bat, this "contact mating" can last from 53 minutes to 13 hours.
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