https://www.buzzfeed.com/bradesposito/wombats-eat-ass
Folks, it has finally happened: researchers in Queensland, Australia, have revealed female Southern Hairy-nosed wombats "bum bite" in an effort to initiate sex.
The revelation comes from a University of Queensland study, published today in the journal Reproduction, Fertility, and Development. Researchers also found that female Southern Hairy-nosed wombats urinate less and run around more, with the pacing found to be an indicator the females are "in season", if you will.
Associate professor Stephen Johnston said in a media release that the studies were aimed at trying to better understand the Southern Hairy-nosed wombat's breeding. The plan is to use this information to assist in the reproduction of the critically endangered Northern Hairy-nosed wombat.
“With only about 200 Northern Hairy-nosed wombats remaining, being able to breed these animals may one day ensure the survival of the species,” he said.
“We have developed a way to map the reproductive cycle of the female wombat by measuring hormone levels in their urine ... Through round-the-clock monitoring over multiple breeding cycles, we detected subtle behavioural changes associated with the fluctuations in this hormonal mapping."
Johnston said these behaviours could be used to identify when wombats in captivity are ready to be brought together for breeding.
So good work researchers, and, uh ... good work wombats.
Folks, it has finally happened: researchers in Queensland, Australia, have revealed female Southern Hairy-nosed wombats "bum bite" in an effort to initiate sex.
The revelation comes from a University of Queensland study, published today in the journal Reproduction, Fertility, and Development. Researchers also found that female Southern Hairy-nosed wombats urinate less and run around more, with the pacing found to be an indicator the females are "in season", if you will.
Associate professor Stephen Johnston said in a media release that the studies were aimed at trying to better understand the Southern Hairy-nosed wombat's breeding. The plan is to use this information to assist in the reproduction of the critically endangered Northern Hairy-nosed wombat.
“With only about 200 Northern Hairy-nosed wombats remaining, being able to breed these animals may one day ensure the survival of the species,” he said.
“We have developed a way to map the reproductive cycle of the female wombat by measuring hormone levels in their urine ... Through round-the-clock monitoring over multiple breeding cycles, we detected subtle behavioural changes associated with the fluctuations in this hormonal mapping."
Johnston said these behaviours could be used to identify when wombats in captivity are ready to be brought together for breeding.
So good work researchers, and, uh ... good work wombats.
