Cephalo-traumatic secretion transfer in a hermaphrodite sea slug.
Mating rituals in the animal kingdom are often quite extraordinary, in particular when mating is traumatic. We here describe the exceptional traumatic mating behaviour of the currently undescribed sea slug, Siphopteron sp. 1. Similar to four congeners, Siphopteron sp. 1 routinely exhibits traumatic secretion transfer through a stylet-like penis appendage. Contrary to previous descriptions, however, prostate secretions are injected centrally into the partner's forehead, representing, to our knowledge, the first-known instance of 'cephalo-traumatic secretion transfer'. We further provide a comparative quantification of within- and between-species variation in injection sites and derive a potential neurophysiological function of prostate secretions that are injected close to, or into, the central nervous system.
Animal Evolutionary Ecology Group, Faculty of Science, University of Tuebingen, , Auf der Morgenstelle 28, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, , Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, , Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
Rolanda
R
Lange
Johanna
J
Werminghausen
Nils
N
Anthes
D000818:Animals; D012634:Bodily Secretions; D002490:Central Nervous System; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D057850:Hermaphroditic Organisms / Q000502:physiology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D013045:Species Specificity
Opisthobranchia; hermaphrodite; hypodermic impregnation; sexual selection; stylet; traumatic mating