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

The Ancient Origins Of Sex

Jan 5, 2024

Discover the ancient origins of sex in this fascinating podcast as Professor John Long discusses his discovery of fossils showing copulation in ancient armoured fishes. Explore the evolution of sexual pleasure, courtship rituals in ancient creatures, the diversity of animal sexuality, and the importance of understanding our place in nature.

35:35

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Quick takeaways

The discovery of ancient fish fossils reveals that copulation and internal fertilization originated much earlier than previously believed, shedding light on the evolutionary history of sexual reproduction.

Animal mating rituals and reproductive strategies showcase the diversity and complexity of sexual behaviors in nature, emphasizing our interconnectedness with other species and the continuum of life.

Deep dives

The Discovery of Ancient Fish Copulation

Scientists have discovered fossils of ancient fish, known as microbrachias dicki, which provide evidence of the earliest act of sexual reproduction. These Scottish fish, dating back 385 million years, were the first creatures on Earth to engage in copulation and internal fertilization. The fossils reveal the presence of specialized reproductive organs, indicating a significant evolutionary development in the history of sex.

Introduction

5min

The Discovery of Ancient Fish Fossils

13min

The Ancient Origins of Sex: Pleasure and Evolutionary Advantage

3min

Ancient Courtship Rituals and Mating Behaviors in Fossil Record

2min

The Evolution and Diversity of Animal Sexuality

11min

Understanding Our Evolutionary History and Connecting with Nature

4min

Going back hundreds of thousands of years, bumping uglies had to start somewhere.

What was the first sexual position? Was sex even for pleasure at this stage of evolution?

On today's episode we're going right the way back to the beginning, and talking to Professor John Long, the palaeontologist and author who discovered the fossils which showed us that copulation was invented by ancient armoured fishes - a lot earlier than scientists previously thought.

Get on your scuba gear, Betwixters, we're going back millions of years to the murky origins of sex.

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

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