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A new species of scarab with remarkably long genitalia that alludes to a curious "race for sexual weapons "has been described in Borneo.
The new insect was named after actress and biologist Isabella Rossellini in honor of her shows and the award-winning Webby series of films on animal reproduction, shown on SundanceTV.
The species is described by scientists Menno Schilthuizen and Iva Njunjic of Naturalis Biodiversity Center and Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and Michel Perreau, Sorbonne University, Paris. Their publication is published in the open access journal ZooKeys .
The new species, Ptomaphaginus isabellarossellini finds its place among the 30 known species of fungus beetles (subfamily Cholevinae ) recorded by the authors of the island of Borneo . Of these, there is a total of 14 that remained unknown to science until now.
The reason scientists have named this particular species after the famous actress is her genitals. The beetle's penis has a long whip-like wire, called a flagellum, while the female has a long tube leading to a sperm storage organ.
Principal author Menno Schilthuizen, who has himself published an entertaining and educational book About the evolution of the genitals, these exacerbated male and female genitalia often betray an "evolutionary sex race".
On the male side, natural selection promotes longer genitalia because of their ability to directly reach the sperm storage organ. However, beetles prefer to retain their right to favor a partner's DNA compared to others. The result is that, during long periods of evolution, the penis lengthen and the vaginas become deeper. Similar evolutionary genital exaggeration is also known in beetles and ducks.
"It's better than winning the Oscar," says Isabella Rossellini
The Italian actress, filmmaker, author, philanthropist and model even presented the new beetle in her new live performances Link Link Circus. Regarding animal behavior, the series will be shot in Europe this fall.
More information:
Menno Schilthuizen et al, A review of the Cholevinae of the island of Borneo (Coleoptera, Leiodidae), ZooKeys (2018). DOI: 10.3897 / zookeys.777.23212
A new species of beetle with remarkably long genitalia that alludes to a curious "race for sexual weapons" evolutionary was described from Malaysian Borneo.
The new insect was named after the actress and biologist Isabella Rossellini in honor of her shows and the award-winning Webby series on animal reproduction, presented on SundanceTV
L & # 39 species is described by scientists Menno Schilthuizen and Iva Njunjic of Naturalis Biodiversity Center and Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and Michel Perreau, Sorbonne University, Paris. Their publication is published in the open access journal ZooKeys .
The new species, Ptomaphaginus isabellarossellini finds its place among the 30 known species of Coleoptera (subfamily Cholevinae ) recorded by the authors of the island of Borneo. Of these, there is a total of 14 that remained unknown to science until now.
The reason scientists have named this particular species after the famous actress is her genitals. The beetle's penis has a long whip-like wire, called a flagellum, while the female has a long tube leading to a sperm storage organ.
Senior Author Menno Schilthuizen, who has already published an educational and entertaining book about the evolution of the genitals, these exaggerated male and female genitalia often betray an "evolutionary sex race".
On the male side, natural selection promotes longer genitalia because of the ability to directly reach the sperm storage organ. However, beetles prefer to retain their right to favor a partner's DNA compared to others. The result is that, during long periods of evolution, the penis lengthen and the vaginas become deeper. Similar evolutionary genital exaggeration is also known in beetles and ducks.
"It's better than winning the Oscar," says Isabella Rossellini, an Italian actress, director, author, philanthropist and model. presented the new beetle in his new Link Link Circus live shows. Regarding animal behavior, the series will be shot in Europe this fall.
More information:
Menno Schilthuizen et al, A review of Cholevinae from the island of Borneo (Coleoptera, Leiodidae), ZooKeys (2018). DOI: 10.3897 / zookeys.777.23212
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