SEA LAMPREYS KNOW, THEY HAVE HOT SEX
Male sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) need to be pretty hot to attract females — thermally hot, that is.
Biologists from Michigan State University have discovered a ridge of fat cells near the anterior dorsal fins of sexually mature male lampreys that heats up when females approach. Until now, scientists had thought this “fat bump" was just ornamental.
In addition, this is the first such thermogenic, or heat-producing, tissue identified in a cold-blooded species.
Sea lampreys are parasitic — feeding on the blood of other fish — and have become invasive in the Great Lakes. Understanding their mating system could help control their growing population.
Gif :Science Live (video) ; Illustration NOAA
Reference: Chung-Davidson et al, 2013 A thermogenic secondary sexual character in male sea lamprey J exp Biol.
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