Unraveling the Mysterious Sex Lives of Serotine Bats

A study published in the journal Current Biology reveals that serotine bats, found in woodlands and attics across Europe and Asia, are the first mammals known to mate without penetration. Instead, the male bats use their abnormally long penises to push their partner's tail membrane out of the way, allowing them to align their openings and engage in contact mating, similar to birds' "cloacal kissing." The researchers analyzed videos of serotine bats mating and found that the male bats press the heart-shaped head of their penis to the female's vulva until copulation is complete. This unique reproductive strategy is believed to be part of an evolutionary arms race between the sexes.