Science Weekly
‘Lesbian’ seagulls and ‘gay’ rams: the endless sexual diversity of nature
Jul 11, 2024
Guest Josh Davis discusses the hidden same-sex behaviors in animals, shedding light on historical suppression and modern acknowledgment. They explore examples from penguins to Kochchafer beetles, challenging misconceptions and delving into the intersection of homosexuality in nature and human behavior.
18:05
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Quick takeaways
- Researchers often avoid publishing same-sex animal behaviors due to societal biases.
- Same-sex sexual activities are prevalent in over 1,500 species, showcasing diversity in nature.
Deep dives
Observations of Adelie Penguins' Behaviors by Leavitt
George Murray Leavick, the ship surgeon on the tragic South Pole expedition, spent 11 months at Cape Adare where he witnessed and recorded the complete breeding cycle of Adelie penguins. Among the observed behaviors were forced copulation, necrophilia, and homosexual activities among the penguins. Leavick was puzzled by these behaviors, leading him to encode his findings in a Greek cipher to protect them from scrutiny. Despite attempts to publish his observations on penguin sexual behavior, it was censored for almost a century.
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