Associate Professor Andrew Durso
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
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Scorpions don't have a penis, right?
Scorpions don't have a penis, right?
They have something called a spermatophore.
They have something called a spermatophore.
It's detachable.
It's detachable.
Basically, they dropped it on the ground, and then in that male-female dance that scorpions do, they pull the female over it.
Basically, they dropped it on the ground, and then in that male-female dance that scorpions do, they pull the female over it.
And it gets more interesting than that, Anne, because males often sting the females during that.
And it gets more interesting than that, Anne, because males often sting the females during that.
It's called sexual sting in the venom gland of males.
It's called sexual sting in the venom gland of males.
Quite likely that it also produces chemicals that help the male's interest.
Quite likely that it also produces chemicals that help the male's interest.
And then in that male-female dance that scorpions do, they pull the female over it.
And then in that male-female dance that scorpions do, they pull the female over it.
And that goes inside the female, and the tip of it has sperm, which goes inside the female, but it also normally breaks, and the tip of it serves as a mating plug.
And that goes inside the female, and the tip of it has sperm, which goes inside the female, but it also normally breaks, and the tip of it serves as a mating plug.