Each
chapter following Chapter One concludes with a sidebar entitled
"Further Phenomena for Fertility." Remarkable
reproductive phenomena appear throughout the animal kingdom
and these sidebars present some of the interesting facts, observations
and even myths relating to the topic of each chapter.
Here are a few samples of interesting facts found at the
end of the chapters. |
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"Please
swear on your testicles. . . ."
The
word "testis" is derived from Latin and meant
"witness" or "spectator." English
words "testify" and "testament"
were derived from testis. The reason for this derivation
is not known. However, it has been proposed that the
testes were witnesses to virility. Romans required that
a witness be an adult intact male. Prepubertal boys,
women or eunachs could not serve as witnesses. Placing
a hand on the testicle (or someone else's testicles)
was a requirement while testifying in some cultures.
Chapter 3 - Male Anatomy |
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"Some
female spiders can be so mean"
Some
spiders have no penis. They eject sperm from their abdomen
onto their web. The male spider picks up the ejaculate
with a special set of antennae and searches for a receptive
female who produces a pheromone. The male has to be
very careful and deposit the semen by surprise because
the female will eat him if she catches him.
Chapter 9 - The Luteal Phase |
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"Milk
Bar"
Infant
kangaroos in their mother's pouches nurse from two nipples,
and two babies of different ages commonly nurse at the
same time. So, the mother kangaroo produces two kinds
of milk - on one side, fully rich for the younger and
on the other side, a sort of skim for the elder.
Chapter 14 - Placentation, Gestation
and Parturition |
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