Mallars, Rape and odd Genitalia

[Hobjob]

On another forum that I frequent, non wildlife, there was a comment about a drake mallard raping a female - well that won't be any surprise to many on this forum.

But what did surprise me was comments about the fact that mallards have amongst the largest phallus' of the bird world, and female mallards have curiously spiral vaginas (or should that be cloaca?) with lots of blind alleys in order to stop full penetration and likely fertilization.

Waterfowl wage genital warfare - LiveScience- msnbc.com

Duck Sex: Competition between sexes leads to crazy anatomy Boing Boing

Female ducks fight back against 'raping' males - life - 01 May 2007 - New Scientist


Isn't nature fascinating

[elvisoneill]

Hi Hobjob

I snapped 2 Shelduck having quite a tussle at Belfast Habour Rserve

today.

I'm not entirely sure whether this was a territorial barney between 2 males

or an unwanted advance on a female but one of them certainly got knocked sideways!

[vole-woman]

Astonishing! Why would female mallards want to lower their chances of fertilisation?

[The Woodman]

[quote=elvisoneill;620488]Hi Hobjob

I snapped 2 Shelduck having quite a tussle at Belfast Habour Rserve

today.

I'm not entirely sure whether this was a territorial barney between 2 males

or an unwanted advance on a female but one of them certainly got knocked sideways!

[quote]

There's a similar image in Birdguide this week - picture of the week.

Iris

Nice one, Elvis

[captaincarot]

about a month ago

i saw it happening, but this time the victim was a chicken

[The Woodman]

Sounds like foul play to me.

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by vole-woman

Astonishing! Why would female mallards want to lower their chances of fertilisation?

So that they can chose the Dad rather than a raping mallard choosing for them.

[vole-woman]

I see. Blimey! Can they adjust their, erm, canals to allow for legitimate mating?

[Kayleigh]

She should have barbs down one of the canals...
that would teach him..

[animartco]

Mallards have spiral penises to match the spiral cloaca, but it makes it more difficult for them to mount. This is why they 'gang rape'. I had two, and it was vey amusing to see them co-operating, one holding the duck down by sitting across her shoulders, while the other did the business!