Dr. Tiana Pirtle

So why does it have all these... The amazing thing is it's corkscrewed in the opposite direction of the penis. So... For a long time, and for some animal species, you think the penis and the vagina fit together, like the lock and key hypothesis. Yes. But this seems to be a vagina that's evolved to not accept the penis, and that's exactly what it can do.

So why does it have all these... The amazing thing is it's corkscrewed in the opposite direction of the penis. So... For a long time, and for some animal species, you think the penis and the vagina fit together, like the lock and key hypothesis. Yes. But this seems to be a vagina that's evolved to not accept the penis, and that's exactly what it can do.

So male ducks can be quite coercive, to use a term that's often used to describe male animals.

So male ducks can be quite coercive, to use a term that's often used to describe male animals.

and the sex ratios tend to be skewed there's more males than females and I'll explain why in a second and that means that not every male gets a female partner for the season so the males that don't form these little bachelor gangs roving around looking for some females and when they find one they jump on her and force themselves on her and that's

and the sex ratios tend to be skewed there's more males than females and I'll explain why in a second and that means that not every male gets a female partner for the season so the males that don't form these little bachelor gangs roving around looking for some females and when they find one they jump on her and force themselves on her and that's

why sex ratios can be skewed is that some females end up being killed in this process or harmed. Right. There's penises exploding everywhere. The female can't really do much about it on the outside, but she has her secret weapon, which is her vagina. And if, The female doesn't want the penises that are exploding at her.

why sex ratios can be skewed is that some females end up being killed in this process or harmed. Right. There's penises exploding everywhere. The female can't really do much about it on the outside, but she has her secret weapon, which is her vagina. And if, The female doesn't want the penises that are exploding at her.

She can shift her body around so that the penis tips go into these little side pockets formed by the corkscrew. Or in some species, she can squeeze the muscles around and just fully expel the penis. And it works remarkably well. So in some duck species, about 40% of the matings a female will experience are these forced matings. Right. But only 2% to 5% of the ducklings are. are fathered by those.

She can shift her body around so that the penis tips go into these little side pockets formed by the corkscrew. Or in some species, she can squeeze the muscles around and just fully expel the penis. And it works remarkably well. So in some duck species, about 40% of the matings a female will experience are these forced matings. Right. But only 2% to 5% of the ducklings are. are fathered by those.

So of all the matings that she's having, up to 40% of them- In some species. In some species are these forced, these sort of gangs of bachelor ducks. But then when you look at Who's actually fathering the ducklings? It's only 2% to 5%?

So of all the matings that she's having, up to 40% of them- In some species. In some species are these forced, these sort of gangs of bachelor ducks. But then when you look at Who's actually fathering the ducklings? It's only 2% to 5%?

Only 2% to 5% of the ducklings are coming from those.

Only 2% to 5% of the ducklings are coming from those.

Wow. So the rest are from mates that were more consensual that she was into?

Wow. So the rest are from mates that were more consensual that she was into?

Yeah, or the partner she's chosen for that season or other males she's gone out to solicit matings from.

Yeah, or the partner she's chosen for that season or other males she's gone out to solicit matings from.

How interesting. And so without science having been able to know who was actually fathering these ducklings, you could see why this story would persist.

How interesting. And so without science having been able to know who was actually fathering these ducklings, you could see why this story would persist.