Queer Sea Creatures - Colorful Diversity in and around the Water
Homosexuality in marine animals? Exactly! Aristotle reported on homosexual couples in the animal kingdom 2300 years ago and to date homosexual behavior has been observed in around 1500 animal species. For a long time, scientists ignored this or dismissed it as a hormonal disorder. Today we know: Nothing is more natural! Read on to find out more about the colorful diversity of the seas.
A pair of penguins – Photo by Pam Ivey on Unsplash
Homosexuality in marine animals? Exactly! Aristotle already 2300 years ago about homosexual couples in the animal kingdom and to date approximately 1,500 animal species homosexual relationships have been observed. For a long time, scientists ignored or dismissed as a hormonal disorder , but today we know: Nothing is more natural.
In keeping with Pride Month in June, we researched the topic of homosexuality in marine animals in more detail. Rainbow Bracenet you too could show your support for universal love!
penguins
The best-known example of homosexuality in animals is penguins, researchers have already 1911 observed. Around one in five penguins is homosexual , with homosexual relationships being more common among males than females. Male homosexual couples sometimes adopt abandoned eggs or "brood" together on large rocks. Like their heterosexual counterparts, they are monogamous and very faithful.
In the Central Park Zoo in New York are home to several world-famous male homosexual penguin couples. The most famous is the Humboldt penguin couple Silo and Roy from 2006. Both are exclusively homosexual and refuse any romantic or sexual contact with females. Together they adopted an orphaned egg and raised their adopted daughter Tango. tango later lived in a same-sex monogamous relationship with another female. The same zoo also housed a female homosexual gentoo penguin pair named Georgey and Mickey. In the Bremerhaven Zoo, for example Six of the 20 Humboldt penguins are homosexual. One of the pairs, like Silo and Roy, took in an orphaned egg, hatched it and now lovingly cares for the young penguin.
dolphins
But not only penguins can be homosexual, there are also many same-sex partnerships among dolphins. researched group in Australia Lifelong homosexual partnerships between males were even more common than heterosexual partnerships. Scientists assume that the dolphins are not primarily interested in sex, but in close social relationships goes.
In bottlenose dolphins, a subspecies of dolphins, all males are bisexual. The homosexual encounters help the social structure of dolphin groups . Even at a young age, male dolphins form a particularly close relationship with another male dolphin, which consolidates and develops into a lifelong partnership. The same-sex pair become companions who travel long distances through the sea together and defend each other. When one partner is sleeping, the other keeps watch and protects him from attackers such as sharks. Even during sexual maturity and reproduction with female dolphins, the homosexual relationship between the male dolphin pair continues. When a partner dies, the "widower" often remains alone for a long time. However, it does happen that he enters into a new relationship with another "widower".
Two dolphins swim together through the sea – Photo by Lachlan Dempsey on Unsplash
albatrosses
While homosexual relationships between males are more common in dolphins, 30% of Laysan albatross couple in Hawaii from two females. Like heterosexual albatrosses, they live in monogamous relationships and allow themselves to be cross-fertilized by males for reproduction. The eggs that result from this cross-fertilization are incubated and cared for by the two females together. Those young animals with two females as parents often have even better chances of survival than young animals that have a heterosexual couple as parents.
walruses
The incredible sexual diversity in the animal world is also evident in male Walruses , which display predominantly homosexual behavior until they reach sexual maturity at the age of four, and then bisexual behavior. They have close relationships with their partners, hugging and cuddling each other. They only have sex with females during the breeding season.
Walruses cuddling on the beach – Photo by Jay Ruzesky on Unsplash
gray whales
Also some gray whales form homosexual relationships with one or two partners. These duos or trios feed and sleep together. When swimming together, they form a formation in which their fins touch so that it looks as if they are holding hands. Researchers have not yet found a scientific reason for this and therefore suspect that the animals simply enjoy each other's company.
Other marine animals in which homosexuality is often observed by scientists are Killer whales, flamingos, sea lions, orcas, manatees and many many Sea . It shows itself in a variety of ways and proves once again that love, no matter between whom, is something natural and beautiful. Let's celebrate love for everyone, not just during Pride Month, but all year round!
News about the LGBTQIA+ community can be found at https://www.queer.de/ .
Happy Pride Month!