Friday, May 11, 2007

Homosexuality in dolphins

This is quite interesting:

Male Bottlenose Dolphins often form lifelong pair-bonds with each other. Adolescent and younger males typically live in all-male groups in which homosexual activity is common; within these groups, a male begins to develop a strong bond with a particular partner (usually of the same age) with whom he will spend the rest of his life. The two Dolphins become constant companions, often traveling widely; although sexual activity probably declines as they get older, it may continue to be a regular feature of such partnerships. Paired males sometimes take turns guarding or remaining vigilant while their partner rests. They also defend their mates against predators such as sharks and protect them while they are healing from wounds inflicted during preclators' attacks. Sometimes three males form a tightly bonded trio. On the death of his partner, a male may spend a long time searching for a new male companion—usually unsuccessfully, since most other males in the community are already paired and will not break their bonds. If, however, he can find another "widower" whose male partner has died, the two may become a couple...

The lives of male Bottlenose Dolphins are characterized by extensive bisexuality, combined with periods of exclusive homosexuality. As adolescents and young males, they have regular homosexual interactions in all-male groups, sometimes alternating with heterosexual activity. From age 10 onward, most male Dolphins form pair-bonds with another male, and because they do not usually father calves until they are 20-25 years old, this can be an extended period—10-15 years—of principally same-sex interaction. Later, when they begin mating heterosexually, they still retain their primary male pair-bonds, and in some populations male pairs and trios cooperate in herding females or in interacting homosexually with Spotted Dolphins.

(Excerpt from the book "Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity" by Bruce Bagemihl.)

11 comments:

Tommykey said...

Of course, we all know what Dani would have to say about that! "If you are going to say we are related to dolphins then we have to act like them, eh?"

BTW, OT, what happened with Andrea's blog? I clicked on the link and get some message that it is invitation only now. And I never got an invitation, sniff... sniff.

Also, I don't know if you've gotten to check out my report about my attempt to meet Ayaan Hirsi Ali. I was 50% successful!

Stardust said...

tommy, yep...that is what she would indeed say! LOL! Personally, sometimes I envy dolphins and their more peaceful existence (when they aren't dodging predators and fishing nets.)

I did read your two posts. You should write a book about your experiences! I will be commenting there soon. I have been working ten hour days and then pooped at night and the brain is tired.

Stardust said...

tommy...forgot to answer this...nope, haven't been to Andrea's blog and I didn't get an invitation either. hmmm I wonder if she had trouble with being harrassed or something.

Juggling Mother said...

many animals pair up with partners of the same sex - some just for fun, and some in prfernce to mixed sex partnerships See the link to gay penguins in Germany here

Krystalline Apostate said...

Save the gay dolphins.
Will wonders never cease?

vjack said...

Next, we'll see something in the news about how Christians have decided that dolphins are evil.

Spirula said...

I see the homersexual agenda is more insidious than previously thought. Now the dolphin families will be ruined, and the next thing you know there will dolphin-gay-pride marches at Sea World, and all our kids will come home gay.

Bastards!

Andrea said...

(Hey Tommy & Star, it was nothing personal, I was just putting that blog on the back burner for now. Been busy with family and spending less time online.

You're welcome to check out my regular blog if you want...it's nothing profound though, and I don't discuss religion or politics there.)

Sooo, gay dolphins, eh? Very interesting. Have you seen dolphins up close, like at Sea World? Damn, they're huge. It's easy to see how they could fend off attacks from sharks.

BigTex71 said...

Next, we'll see something in the news about how Christians have decided that dolphins are evil.

Now the Christians will get the FDA to remove the 'Dolphin-safe' labels from tuna cans.. and may actually promote dolphin as- the other, other white meat. :D

Stardust said...

andrea...long time no see! I will have to check out your other blog.

Dolphins are quite large. Porpoises are smaller, I think. I would have to look that up.

Stardust said...

dolphin-gay-pride marches at Sea World

LOL! Now with the way the world is, with a parade for just about everything...this would not surprise me one bit.