Dr. Tiana Pirtle

So these guys have like a special organ that will store the sperm over winter for years even. Oh, wow. I believe there's a tortoise or a turtle that stored sperm for four years.

So these guys have like a special organ that will store the sperm over winter for years even. Oh, wow. I believe there's a tortoise or a turtle that stored sperm for four years.

And then produce a clutch from it. Wow, they've got like a little IVF fridge in there.

And then produce a clutch from it. Wow, they've got like a little IVF fridge in there.

These snakes, they'll go around and mate with the males they come across. They can be quite indiscriminate because they can keep all the sperm they find and deal with it later. That is amazing. They could store it for that long. Yes.

These snakes, they'll go around and mate with the males they come across. They can be quite indiscriminate because they can keep all the sperm they find and deal with it later. That is amazing. They could store it for that long. Yes.

And then there's some evidence to suggest that snakes, alligators, sharks, all these species that are storing sperm can then select which sperm to use for which clutch. And we don't exactly know how they're doing this, but there's quite a complex dialogue happening between the sperm and the vagina environment.

And then there's some evidence to suggest that snakes, alligators, sharks, all these species that are storing sperm can then select which sperm to use for which clutch. And we don't exactly know how they're doing this, but there's quite a complex dialogue happening between the sperm and the vagina environment.

So the female will mate with a bunch of different males, store the sperm, and then we think when she releases an egg, she'll somehow, using the word choose generously, but she'll somehow be like, all right, well, for this egg, what we really need is this sperm.

So the female will mate with a bunch of different males, store the sperm, and then we think when she releases an egg, she'll somehow, using the word choose generously, but she'll somehow be like, all right, well, for this egg, what we really need is this sperm.

We want this sperm. Well, in the ejaculate you have quite a diverse range of sperms. This sperm has crappy genetics. We're not going to choose that one. Oh, this one. It's got great receptors on the outside.

We want this sperm. Well, in the ejaculate you have quite a diverse range of sperms. This sperm has crappy genetics. We're not going to choose that one. Oh, this one. It's got great receptors on the outside.

We're going to help this one go forward. Interesting. And you'll be the one to fertilize my eggs and that'll increase my baby's chance of survival. Amazing. So clearly some animals have evolved these bells and whistles, these sperm storage facilities. Corkscrews.

We're going to help this one go forward. Interesting. And you'll be the one to fertilize my eggs and that'll increase my baby's chance of survival. Amazing. So clearly some animals have evolved these bells and whistles, these sperm storage facilities. Corkscrews.

Why is it that... Which, you know, I do still love it though. It's one of my favorites. It's very regal looking, isn't it?

Why is it that... Which, you know, I do still love it though. It's one of my favorites. It's very regal looking, isn't it?

It's just like a very long tube. Coincides with a very long, thin penis. I could only imagine. Well, this vagina does many amazing things still.

It's just like a very long tube. Coincides with a very long, thin penis. I could only imagine. Well, this vagina does many amazing things still.

What's happening here? So this vagina is punctured by a very long penis that has a little hook on the end of it.

What's happening here? So this vagina is punctured by a very long penis that has a little hook on the end of it.