Serotine bats, a common species found in Europe and Africa, engage in non-penetrative mating.
The bats' penises are unusually large, around seven times longer than their partners' vaginas and have a 'heart-shaped' head that is seven times wider than the vaginal opening, making penetration impossible.
This non-penetrative contact mating is similar to the 'cloacal kiss' most birds use to reproduce.
In a remarkable discovery, scientists have found that serotine bats, a common species found in Europe and Africa, engage in non-penetrative mating, a behavior previously unobserved in mammals. This discovery was made possible by a video sent by a Dutch retiree named Jan Jeucken, which captured the bats in the act in a church attic.
The serotine bats' penises are unusually large, around seven times longer than their partners' vaginas and have a 'heart-shaped' head that is seven times wider than the vaginal opening. This makes penetration post-erection impossible. Instead, the bats use their penises in a unique way during mating, akin to an extra limb.
Researchers observed 97 mating events and did not observe penetration at any point. This non-penetrative contact mating is similar to the 'cloacal kiss' most birds use to reproduce. However, further research is needed to confirm that sperm was transferred during these putative mating events.
This discovery marks the first time non-penetrative sex has been documented in a mammal, adding a new dimension to our understanding of animal mating behaviors. The study was led by biologist Nicolas Fasel from the University of Lausanne and has been published in Current Biology.
The researchers observed 97 mating events and did not observe penetration at any point. Further research is needed to confirm that sperm was transferred during these putative mating events.