Oyster species set a new record for sex

Oysters possess the largest penis compared to their body size in the animal kingdom and now this species continues to set a new record with the ability to capture sperm directly from water.

>>>The largest oyster in the world

According to Discovery, the oyster's unique mechanism of " ejaculating and catching" sperm is the first case of this type found in crustaceans. For years, it has been suggested that spermatozoa for fertilizing eggs in crustaceans occur through intercourse.

However, scientists now discover that this process is less intimate, at least in the oyster species - the organism whose majority is bisexual, using both male sexual organs. and the.

Researcher Marjan Barazandeh from the University of Alberta and his colleagues came up with the conclusion after collecting the common goose oysters ( Pollicipes polymerus ) popular in the Northeast Pacific.

Through observation and chemical analysis, the team found: 'a large percentage of eggs are fertilized by sperm that are captured directly from water. Sperm capture occurs 100% in single oysters and up to 24% in oysters who have close partners. '

'That' in oysters therefore involves some individuals using the penis to shoot sperm into the water while others "racket" the sperm to fertilize the egg. This is like indirect fertilization without intercourse.

The team concluded that the new discoveries overturned more century-old concepts about what oysters can do and what cannot be done about sperm transfer. They also raise interesting questions about the ability to catch sperm in other species.

Researchers note that, when trapped, oysters often maintain life by sticking themselves to surfaces. That itself seems to create a major obstacle to their reproduction. However, it is clear that oysters have overcome these challenges with a unique sperm capture mechanism.