Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

Sex Lives of Dinosaurs

Jan 24, 2025

In a delightful chat with Dr. David Hone, an expert in dinosaur behavior and author, listeners dive into the wild world of dinosaur romance. They explore how T-Rex might have fared despite its tiny arms and the curious mechanics of mating among these massive creatures. Dr. Hone also sheds light on potential mating rituals, the significance of fossilized footprints, and the intriguing question of dinosaur monogamy. With humor and scientific insight, this conversation unearths the complexities of prehistoric procreation.

39:36

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Episode guests

David Hone

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Dinosaurs likely utilized unique mating strategies and physical displays, similar to modern birds, to attract partners despite anatomical challenges.

The reproductive mechanics of dinosaurs involved cloacal connections for sperm transfer, reflecting adaptations comparable to contemporary reptiles and birds.

Deep dives

Dinosaurs and Sexual Behavior

Dinosaurs, like all species, must have engaged in some form of mating behavior to ensure the continuation of their species. Since internal fertilization is a characteristic of amniotes, which include reptiles and birds, dinosaurs likely required close physical contact for reproduction. The challenges of copulation, particularly for larger species such as T-Rex or sauropods, are notable; their sheer size and physical structure would have made traditional mating difficult. The podcast emphasizes that despite the evolutionary challenges posed by their anatomy, dinosaurs almost certainly found ways to mate effectively.

Intro

3min

Dinosaurs in Love: Reproductive Mysteries

19min

Exploring Dinosaur Mating Mechanics

3min

Dinosaur Dance: Mating Rituals in Prehistory

7min

Understanding Dinosaur Reproductive Structures

2min

Monogamy and Mystery in Dinosaurs

6min

What's the dinosaur equivalent of Netflix and chill? Were they capable of flirting?

In today's episode, Kate speaks with Dr. David Hone, author of Uncovering Dinosaur Behaviour: What They Did And How We Know, to find out more about how different dinosaurs might have had sex.

Could the T-Rex's little arms aid their sexual performance? How did they penetrate through so much heavy protective armour? And were they monogamous?

This episode was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.

All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media.

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Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

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