Courting Works Better than Sneaking
Squid are so intriguing especially since they live way down in the deep blue sea. But as it turns out squid also have their own mating rituals and the females select their mates based on choosing the best males who can perform elaborate dances to lure them. The males display these dances for their potential mates from the wee hours of the morning until sun down. Females are drawn together to see these lekking displays. “Lekking is a behavior best known in a few species of birds; all the males gather together in a small area, put on elaborate displays, and the females stroll among the males flaunting their stuff to pick and choose the most desirable. It's a competitive scheme in which many males put on a show and fail…and it's an excellent example of sexual selection in which female mate choice is paramount.”(Sauer) It is amazing that these behaviors are displayed in cephalopods, when their species is so completely different from birds.
These lekking displays only occurs during egg laying period for squids, but once a female squid chooses her mate she will go away with him and reproduce. The mating process of a squid is also impressive. The male squid will position its body in a manner that his mate feels is most comfortable, then it will reach unto its mantle (which is the equivalent of its mouth) and pull out a sperm packet. It attaches the sperm packet to a special arm called a hetocotyl arm, which is a sort of penis. The reason it is not completely determined to be a penis is because of its length. The length of the hetocotyl arm (penis) is the same length as the rest of the squid’s legs and not distinguishable as a reproductive organ nor does the arm produce its own sperm. Once the squid has attached the sperm packet to its hetocotyl arm it will then reach into the females mantel and deposit this packet deep with in her, sometimes a part of the arm will break off leaving deep with in the female ensuring 95% success in fecundation.
Not all males are successful in obtaining a mate therefore they resort to “sneaking”. Sneaker males will disguise themselves as females to get near another female and then resort to throwing its sperm packets at the female they are stocking. As would be expected, the success rate in this situation is pretty low - usually less that 44%. The reason the rate is so low is because the female will see this happening and try to escape. Usually the sperm packets will land someplace on the female’s arms or on her head and not allow for necessary fecundation.
So I have a wise word to all those potential sneaking male squids out there. “For a better chance of passing on genetic information you need to learn how to do the jiggy jiggy la-la dance better”.
-http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2006/02/tentacle_sex_part_deux.php
-Sauer WHH, Roberts MJ, Lipinski MR, Smale MJ, Hanlon RT, Webber DM, O'Dor RK (1997) Choreography of the Squid’s "Nuptial Dance". Bio. Bull. 192: 203-207.
posted by PWH @ 11:42 PM
10 comments
10 Comments:
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This article was quite interesting. Why would the arm fall off though and how often does this occur? The thing I find most interesting is the males disguising themselves as females and then they throw their sperm. It is quite hilarious if you think about the sperm flying and trying to fertilize the women’s eggs. Do you specifically know what they do for their display like the motions they do or anything? Great job!
CMB- Charlotte (14)
The article regarding the squid had a lot to do with what we have been talking about in class. It's interesting to find out that another species besides toads and seals do the sneaking gig when it comes down to mating. It just goes to show that any males, whether they are capable or not, will do whatever it takes to pass their genes down to the next generation. I found the the actual process of how the sperm is transmitted intriguing because they aren't even sure if the male squid has a reproductive organ. Are scientists still trying to find out about the sexual mechanism of the squid in terms of the penis and if it's in a fact a reproductive tool? Overall, great topic in relation to what we are learning in class. Some spelling errors but very well written.
Posted by HC (14)
Good post. This article is such a good example to show animal's sexual selection. It is amazingly intriguing that all species have a diverse predispositions on maximaizing their fitness. I never had any clue about how the squid would mate, but this article inspired me enough to believe that every species have a pretty much competitive scheme for courting or mating rituals. In an evolutionic sense, a courting gurantees the reproductive success because and it is important to pass on genes. It is hilarious that the squid use hectocotyl arm serves to carry the sperm packet into the female's body. Does it also used as a sexual organ for mating?
The jiggy-jiggy la la dance? I like that! But the idea that the squid will break off a piece of his arm to ensure success is even more intriguing. I wonder, does the faux-penis arm that breaks off grow back or is this a form of 'squid-circumcision'? (now there's a visual, eh?)
Course Participant
I found this blog post very interesting. It was very informative, as well as entertaining. I have herd of this sneaking behavior in many fish , but they usually hang around another males territory and then sneak in when the dominant male is not looking. I have never herd of males acting as females to get close, it is very interesting. When the arm of the male sometimes falls off, does this hurt the male?
Brian Salem (14)
I found this blog post very interesting. It was very informative, as well as entertaining. I have herd of this sneaking behavior in many fish , but they usually hang around another males territory and then sneak in when the dominant male is not looking. I have never herd of males acting as females to get close, it is very interesting. When the arm of the male sometimes falls off, does this hurt the male?
Brian Salem (14)
I found this blog post very interesting. It was very informative, as well as entertaining. I have herd of this sneaking behavior in many fish , but they usually hang around another males territory and then sneak in when the dominant male is not looking. I have never herd of males acting as females to get close, it is very interesting. When the arm of the male sometimes falls off, does this hurt the male?
Brian Salem (14)
Nice topic choice! This is a very interesting article since not many things are known from these creatures. Nice job!
MIS
Sexual selection at it's best is what i have to say. I wonder what qualities the female squid sees in the male squid while she looks for a mate? Also, is there a period when the squid mate or is it always constant mating all the time?
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