Unveiling the Unconventional Sex Lives of Serotine Bats

Serotine bats have been found to mate in a unique way never before observed in mammals. Researchers discovered that male serotine bats have significantly larger and longer penises compared to females' vaginas. Instead of penetration, the bats touch their genitals together during mating, similar to how birds touch cloacas. This unusual behavior challenges the assumption that all mammals mate through intromission. The researchers aim to further study copulatory behaviors in other bat species and explore the secretive aspects of bat reproduction. This finding sheds light on the sexual conflict and evolutionary adaptations in serotine bats.