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Most Bizarre Animal Mating Rituals
From strutting birds and hermaphrodite fish … to mating balls and love darts … Here are 18 of the most bizarre animal mating rituals
#18 Black Widow
Along with the Praying Mantis which is also on our list, these arachnids are often cited for practicing sexual cannibalism. The females are known to eat the males after mating, but the behavior doesn’t happen as often as is believed. Part of that is because males can sense chemicals in the female’s web to determine whether she’s recently fed. If she’s already dined on a suitor, another male has less chance of being eaten himself!
#17 Horny Hippos
You might guess that any animal that looks like a hippo isn’t going to take the subtle approach when it comes to wooing a mate. When a male hippo has set his sights on a potential mate, he positions himself where she can clearly see him. Whereupon the male then proceeds to lose control of his bowels and bladder, on purpose. And to make sure his intended can’t forget him, the male hippo spins his tail like a propeller, sending the stink and filth to the nostrils of his beloved. Like we said, not exactly subtle.
#16 Peacock Spiders
These tiny critters belong to the same family as jumping spiders, and are known for their vibrant coloration and distinct patterns. But only the males of this genus receive the striking colors, which are most notably displayed during courtship rituals. The male will raise the circular, colorful flap on his abdomen to catch the female’s attention. To make himself more noticeable, the male will also make his abdomen and hind legs vibrate. Since all jumping spiders are known to have superior eyesight, the female can’t miss the signals!
#15 Greater Bird of Paradise
It was once believed that these birds had no legs. Supposedly, they were always kept aloft by their plumage, and never touched the Earth until they died. That inspired the idea that the birds were visitors from Paradise. Females are larger, measuring up to 19 inches (48 cm) excluding the tail. Males are known to congregate in groups called ‘leks’ when it’s time to court females. The displays involve an intricate choreography of dance moves and calls as they try to attract a mate. During the mating season the presentation starts before sunup and lasts until after sunset!
#14 Brush-Tailed Phascogale (FAH-skuh-gail)
Also known as the Common Wambenger (WAHM-beng-gur), this critter has a very rat-like appearance. But it’s actually a marsupial that’s found everywhere in Australia except for Tasmania. These arboreal carnivores are noted for their short life spans, which results from the animal’s frenzied mating process. A huge amount of energy is dedicated to reproduction, and about 25-percent of the male’s body mass is geared to the process. They become so obsessed about perpetuating the species that they won’t eat. The lack of food, combined with the excess energy creates a mating burnout. And that stress brings on diseases that kill every male before they turn one year old.
#13 Greater Sage Grouse
When it’s time to mate, these birds engage in a complex system of courtship rituals. Like the Greater Bird of Paradise, males of this species will gather together in leks to perform strutting displays before females. Every spring they’ll perform for several hours during the morning and evening by inflating the air sacs on his chest and making a variety of cricket-like chirping vocalizations. Of all the males gathered, only the two most dominant specimens will breed with 80-percent of the females.
#12 Clownfish
If you’ve seen “Finding Nemo” or “Finding Dory”, you’re familiar with clownfish. But did you know they can switch gender when it’s required? They’re known as sequential hermaphrodites … Clownfish develop as males first, and upon maturation become females. Clownfish, or anemonefish, adhere to a strict dominance hierarchy … with the biggest and most aggressive female found at the top. In a group, only a male and a female will reproduce. But should the female clownfish be removed from the group, then one of the more dominant males will transform into a female. That leaves the rest of the males to move up a notch in the hierarchy.
Most Bizarre Animal Mating Rituals
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