Mammalian Sexuality: The Act of Mating and the Evolution of ReproductionThere are more than 6000 species belonging to twenty-seven orders in the Class Mammalia. Comparative studies of this diverse and magnificent array of extant species provide valuable opportunities to formulate and test hypotheses concerning the evolution of reproduction. This is the first book to explore, in depth and breadth, the complex interrelationships that exist between patterns of mating behaviour and the evolution of mammalian reproductive anatomy and physiology. It focuses upon the role that copulatory and post-copulatory sexual selection have played during the evolution of the monotremes, marsupials and placental mammals, and examines the effects of sperm competition and cryptic female choice upon coevolution of the genitalia in the two sexes. In addition, due weight is also given to discussions of the modes of life of mammals, and to the roles played by natural selection and phylogeny in determining their reproductive traits. |
Contents
The Act of Mating | 55 |
Copulatory Interactions and Sexual Selection | 89 |
The Evolution of Reproduction | 109 |
The Testes and Spermatozoa | 155 |
The Accessory Reproductive Glands and Ducts | 187 |
Cooperation Conflict and Cryptic Female Choice | 205 |
The Evolution of Matinginduced and Spontaneous Ovulation | 248 |
An End of Day Glass | 267 |
Appendices | 283 |
| 313 | |
| 371 | |
Other editions - View all
Mammalian Sexuality: The Act of Mating and the Evolution of Reproduction Alan F. Dixson Limited preview - 2021 |
Common terms and phrases
12 Dixson Afrotheria anatomy baculum bats Biology body weight carnivores cervix cetaceans Cetartiodactyla Chapter chimpanzees copulation copulatory behaviour copulatory lock copulatory patterns copulatory plugs cryptic female choice deferens Dewsbury discussed distal dolphins echidna ejaculation elephant epididymis Eulipotyphla evolution example exhibit extant Family female,s fertilization Figure fossil functions galagos gametes genera genitalia Genus glans penis gorilla groups human induced ovulation intromission intromission durations Journal lemurs macaque males mammalian marsupials mate with multiple mating systems mating-induced monkeys monotremes motility multiple partners multiple-partner matings muscles non-gregarious occur offspring Order oviduct ovulation pelvic thrusting penile morphology penile spines phylogenetic placental mammals Placentalia platypus polygynandrous polygynous possum post-copulatory sexual selection primates prolonged intromission prostate rabbits rats relative testes sizes rodents semen seminal sexual selection shrews species sperm competition sperm midpiece sperm transport spermatozoa spontaneous ovulation stimulation studies taxa tenrecs terminal segment traits urethra uterus vagina whales Yes No Yes Yes Yes