Writing for The Conversation Wildlife Conservation educator Louisa Gentle explains how Autumn influences sexual and reproductive behaviour in both non-human and human animals alike. As daylight decreases and temperatures change, animals experience hormonal shifts that affect their mating habits. Some animals become more competitive during mating season, while others change their reproductive strategies to prepare for winter. For humans, testosterone surges in Autumn, leading to an increase of conceptions in November and December, which helps to explain why September 26 is the most common worldwide birthday. While heterosexuality dominates the reproductive season, the fall incites homosexual relations for many species. Seasonal bisexuality of this sort has been observed in red foxes, red squirrels and bats in particular.
As the holidays approach you may consider Gentle’s book The Twelve Penises of Christmas as a gift idea for any of your genitalia-curious pals. For example, ducks grow mighty penises during the springtime breeding season, which can reach lengths longer than their own bodies. The duck penis then shrinks to around 10% its full size during the Fall. Duck vaginas are evolutionary marvels as well. Female ducks have labyrinth-like vaginas that have several dead ends, which help them to ward off fertilisation from unwanted males. They can also relax their complex vaginas on demand, thereby encouraging fertilization when they want it.
I don’t know about you my dear sexual subjects, but I know many a human being who would benefit from a seasonal penis or complex vagina!
