Certain species of fruit bats have figured out some pretty interesting mating tricks in order to prolong the magic, and … umm … well, one rhymes with “Horatio” and the other sounds like the name for someone who is clever with words.
By putting their money where their mouth is, both males and females prolong the mating experience (which can increase the odds of fertilization) and they prevent their competition from getting a chance with the same mate. They may even be getting a taste of how compatible they are with their mate, literally. Think of it as making an oral argument in order to increase your odds of reproduction and carrying your genes to the next generation.
At any rate, understanding the various mating behaviors of the world’s animals provide key insights to evolution. Bats, who make up a quarter of all mammal species, are crucial to that understanding. We knew they were creatures of the night, but this takes it to another level, eh?
I’ll just let you guys take the conversation from here, because I’m a gentleman. Read Ed Yong’s full coverage for more. And of course …