#queer fauna

Too many girlfriends? Not a problem for the hawkfish! The species in this family are protogynous, meaning that all individuals start out as females at birth. As adults, they form harems around a dominant male; but if there are too many females, then one or more of them will change into males and branch off with up to half of the remaining females. Not enough girlfriends? Not a problem either! If the number of females in a harem gets too low, or if they lose a challenge from another male, the former harem leader will simply revert back to being female.

The Riveting Ribbon Eel

The ribbon eel, also known as the blue ribbon eel, the leaf-nosed moray eel or the bernis eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita) is a species of moray eel distributed throughout the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific Ocean. They are often found in warm lagoons and sandy or rocky areas near coral reefs. They are seldom seen at depths greater than 57 m (187 ft).

Leaf-nosed moray eels spend most of their time in burrows or rocky crevices, waiting for small fish and crustaceans to come close enough to ambush. They are active mainly during the day, but even then they don't often venture out into the open unless they have to. R. quaesita has a few natural predators, including other moray eels and groupers. Unlike their more famous cousins the giant moray, they don't have a very strong bite, so they avoid being eaten mainly by hiding. Thanks to their unique, tube-shaped nostrils they also have excellent senses of smell.

Blue ribbon eels are characterised by their extremely long, thin bodies. Adults have up to 255 vertebrae, making them one of the longest known eels in the world. Males range from 65 to 94 cm (26 to 37 in) in length, while females can reach up to 130 cm (51 in). Males and females are also differentiated by their color; males are striped blue and yellow, while females are completely yellow from head to tail.

R. quaesita are protandrous, which means they all intially develop as male, and transition to female as they get older and larger- typically starting their transition around 1 m (39 in) in length. Little is known about when they reproduce, but when males and females do decide to mate they release sperm and eggs into the water where they fertilize. The females will only do this once, and they die within a month of reproduction. The larvae drift in the currents until they settle on the ocean bed and develop into black juveniles. It can take several years for them to become fully mature, and adults in the wild may live up to 20 years.

Conservation status: Ribbon eels are considered Least Concern by the IUCN. Those that live near coral reefs may be threatened by coral bleaching and damage. Capture for the pet trade is also a threat, as those held in captivity tend to die quickly and breeding is difficult.

Photos

Erik Schlögl

Lawrence T

These gulls really put the 'G' in LGBTQ! Studies have shown that up to 15% of a western gull colony may be composed of female-female pairings, which lay 'supernormal' clutches of 6-7 eggs. While most of these eggs are infertile, some do hatch-- likely due to one or both members seeking out temporary male mates-- and just like their heterosexual counterparts, the female gulls in these pairings tend to stay with with their same-sex partner for life.

Having a dad around can be pretty important- and not just for the bad jokes and games of catch. Studies have shown that male zebra finches raised by only by their mother choose to pair with other members of their own sex far more often than males raised by both parents. This is likely due to a gap in their early education; males have to learn specific courtship songs from their fathers, so when it comes time to mate, they aren't able to woo females as well as their peers raised by both parents. So instead, they form bonds with other males-- especially those who were also raised without a father.

I've decided to delete today's Uncharismatic Fact regarding amazon river dolphins because, as someone pointed out, it's a bit dubious at best. The original article which I had as my source was a bit old and somewhat vague, and there aren't many other reliable sources discussing it.

In leiu of today's fact, please enjoy these highly scientific images of two male Amazon river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) having completely normal, non-nasal sex:

Don't Flea from the Water Flea!

Daphnia pulex is the most common species of water flea, and perhaps one of the most abundant animals in the world. They are found in nearly every permanant, stagnant body of fresh water, including lakes, ponds, slow-moving streams, and small puddles. They typically reside near the surface of the water, but will occasionally venture deeper into the column, particularly during the day when they are more vulnerable to predators.

Colonies of D. pulex feed on bacteria, phytoplankton fine detritus, and certain types of algae. They are filter feeders, using their feathery front legs to create small currents in the water which draws in food. Due to their small size, D. pulex is vulnerable to many predators including fish, insect larvae, and other water fleas. Populations often undergo cyclomorphosis, a process in which they change size and shape to make it harder for potential predators to feed on them.

Despite being quite abundant, D. pulex is rarely seen, as individuals are usually between 0.2-3.0 mm long. Males are usually smaller than females, and have longer antennae. Although they are crustaceans, it is difficult to distinguish segments of their body, and different populations may have anywhere from 4-6 pairs of legs. The outer shell is largely transparent, exposing the internal organs.

D. pulex typically utilizes either cyclical parthenogenesis to reproduce. In cyclical parthenogenesis, the cycle starts in the winter with females laying eggs which are fertilized by the males. The eggs can remain dormant for up to twenty years, and can resist freezing and drying. After hatching, the young can live up to 100 days without predation. In this second part of their cycle, which occurs during the summer, the emerging population is entirely female, and the eggs they lay can develop into both males and females. Under ideal conditions, populations may consist entirely of parthenogenic females.

Conservation status: D. pulex has not been evaluated by the IUCN. Due to their large range and population they are largely stable, although overharvesting for the aquarium trade may pose a threat to more isolated populations.

Photos

Paul Herbert

Lance Biechele

For fish in the genus Poecilia, there's nothing more attractive than a little male-on-male action. Several studies have shown that females more often prefer to mate with males that they observe having relations with other males-- as well as with females of other Poecilia species. Homosexual behavior is especially common in subordinate males unable to secure and defend a territory their own, which indicates that they might use these couplings to demonstrate their fitness and lure females away from a dominant male's territory.

For a bird as flamboyant as the Guianan cock-of-the-rock, homosexual behavior is almost a given. Studies have shown that up to 40% of males engage in same-sex copulation, particularly among younger individuals who have yet to establish their own territories for displaying to females, and a small percentage never attempt to court females at all.