University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Leper bats have been confirmed to mate non-invasively. Provided by Wikimedia
For the first time, a case of mammals mating using the unique method of touching skin to skin has been confirmed. This is a confirmed case of another alternative reproductive method for animals.
Professor Nicolas Parcell’s research team at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland published the results of a study confirming non-invasive sexual behavior in bats for the first time in the international academic journal ‘Current Biology’ on the 21st. It was confirmed that ‘leper bats’ observed in the Netherlands mate by rubbing their reproductive organs.
The research team focused on the fact that the reproductive organs of leper bats are larger than their torsos. Since mating is difficult in the normal way, it was assumed that another way would be found.
The research team obtained a clue to unlock the secrets of leper bat reproduction from a bat lover in the Netherlands. The hobbyist filmed 93 cases of bats mating in the attic of a church near his home and sent them to the research team. In addition, the research team analyzed four additional cases at the Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center.
As a result, during mating, the male leper bat bit the back of the female’s neck and only rubbed his reproductive organs without directly penetrating the female’s torso. The longest copulation lasted 12.7 hours, but half of all instances lasted 53 minutes or less. After mating, the fur on the female’s abdomen appeared wet, which the research team explained meant that the male’s sperm had been released.
This study is evaluated as confirming the diversity of alternative reproductive methods in mammals. Until now, the male reproductive system was thought to have evolved to deliver sperm close to the egg. However, cases that do not fit this evolutionary model continue to be discovered, including the case of leper bats. For example, sparrows mate through a special opening called the cloaca, which is used to excrete waste.
The research team plans to investigate the shape of the reproductive organs and mating methods of various bat species through follow-up research.
