Strange Animal Behavior: Well-known Homosexual Species

Homosexual behavior occurs in the animal kingdom especially in social species, particularly in marine birds

and mammals, monkeys, and the great apes. Homosexual behavior has been observed among 1,500 species,

and in 500 of those it is well documented.

Lions (Panthera leo)

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What?! Lions are homosexuals?! Base on the above photo - they are not. As a matter of fact, during a mating

bout, a couple (lion and lioness) may copulate 20 to 40 times a day for several days, very durable indeed. As

with other cats, the male lion’s penis has spines which point backwards. Upon withdrawal of the penis, the spines

rake the walls of the female’s vagina, which may cause ovulation. A lioness may mate with more than one male

when she is in heat.

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But that’s not it; this article’s topic is about homosexuality. So, do you believe that the Lion - the so-called “king of

the jungle” is homosexual? Male lions often lead their social groups jointly with one or more of their brothers. To

ensure loyalty, the male co-leaders will “strengthen the bonds by often having sex with each other”. I am sure, just

like me, you never thought of this too before.

Bonobo (Pan paniscus)

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Bonobos are sometimes called Pigmy Chimpanzee. Bonobo males frequently engage in various forms of

male-male genital sexual behavior. Bonobo females also engage in female-female genital sexual behavior,

(tribadism), to bond socially with each other.

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So both male and female Bonobo engages in sexual behavior with the same and the opposite sex, with females

being particularly noted for engaging in sexual behavior with each other and at up to 75% of sexual activity being

bisexual.

Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)

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The Black Swan, a large waterbird of Australia, form sexually active male-male mated pairs and steal nests, or

form temporary threesomes with females to obtain eggs, driving away the female after she lays the eggs. The

same phenomenon can be found in a number of other waterbirds like geese and flamingos.

Recently, a mated pair of Swans in Boston was found to be both female. They too had attempted to raise eggs

together.

Chinsptrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus)

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The Chinstrap Penguins, some of the boldest and most aggressive penguins, are also reported that a male pair

named Roy and Silo in the Central Park Zoo in New York City were partnered and had successfully hatched a

female chick from an egg. Other penguins in New York have also been reported to be forming same-sex pairs.

Zoos in Japan and Germany have also documented male penguin couples. The couples have been shown to

build nests together and use a stone to replace an egg in the nest.

Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)

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Studies have shown that 10% to 15%ten of female Western Gulls in some populations in the wild prefer other

females. The Western Gull is a large white-headed gull of North America.

Whip-tailed Lizard (Cnemidophorus)

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Whip-tailed Lizard females have the ability to reproduce through parthenogenesis and as such males are rare

and sexual breeding non-standard. Females engage in sexual behavior to stimulate ovulation, with their behavior

following their hormonal cycles; during low levels of estrogen, female lizards engage in “masculine” sexual roles.

Those animals with currently high estrogen levels assume “feminine” sexual roles. So, even though asexual

Whiptail Lizards populations lack males, sexual stimuli still increase reproductive success. Certain species of

gecko also reproduce by parthenogenesis.

Flatworm (Platyhelminthes)

Flatworms are hermaphrodite (possessing both eggs and sperm-producing testes) and they engage in penis

fencing. When the “winner” touches its penis to the ‘skin’ of the other, insemination occurs, and the “loser” has

to bear the burden of motherhood.

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Penis fencing is a mating behavior engaged in by flatworms using two-headed dagger-like penises which are

pointed and white in color. The “winner” is the organism that inseminates the other. The sperm is absorbed

through pores in the skin, causing fertilization in the “loser”.

Sheep (Ovies aries)

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Based on a conducted research on sheep’s homosexuality, eight percent of male sheep are engage in male-male

homosexuality. The results of this study have not been confirmed by others.

Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta)

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Spotted Hyena females have a unique urinary-genital system, closely resembling the penis of the male, called

a pseudo-penis. It had been documented that they engage in female-female homosexual. They are notable for

using visible sexual arousal as a sign of submission and not dominance, in males as well as females who have a

sizable erectile clitoris.

Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops)

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Bottlenose Dolphins inhabit warm and temperate seas worldwide.

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Bottlenose Dolphin males have been observed engaging in intense sexual play with each other. Studies cited that

dolphins are bisexual and the male bonds forged from homosexuality work for protection as well as locating

females to reproduce with.

Seahorses (Hippocampus)

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Seahorses, long upheld as monogamous and mating for life, are identified as “promiscuous, flighty, and more

than a little bit gay” according to research published in 2007. Scientists at 15 aquariums studied 90 seahorses

of 3 species. Of 3168 sexual encounters, 37% were same sex acts.

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Bisexuality is widespread and considered “both a great surprise and a shock”, with Big Bellied Seahorses of both

genders not showing partner preference.1986 contacts were male-female, 836 were female-female and 346 were

male-male.

Male Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)

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The Mallard is probably the best-known and most recognizable of all ducks found throughout the world. Mallards

have rates of male-male sexual activity that are unusually high for birds. Based on researches, as many as 19%

pairs in a Mallard population are male-male homosexual.

Hope you enjoyed this. Thank you!

For more articles about animals’ sex life see

The Weirdest and Intriguing Sex Life of Animals

Weird and Bizarre Animal Sexual Acts