Dr. Tatiana

1
Dr. Tatianas
Sex Advice

• Gilbert the Peacock
• And
• Friends

2
Gilbert the Peacock

• Dear Dr. Tatiana,
• I have a lousy tail. Its not colorful, my
  eyespots are pathetic, and hens dont even notice
  me when I put it up. What should I do?
• - Gilbert the Peacock

3
Dr. Tatianas Advice

• Join A Gang Like Your Friends

• Bluehead Wrasse (Coral Reef Fish)

• Males team up to chase a large male from
  territory
• Female arrives all young males spawn
  her

4
Dr. Tatianas Advice
Join a Gang Like Your Friends

• Sea Lions

• Biggest male guards harems and chases young
  males away
• Groups will rush the beach, break up harems, and
  mate with females

Group resting after a successful rush
5
Gilberts Solution
Join a Lek (group of peacocks)

• Female peacocks want nothing from males but
  their sperm

• Leks are organized so females can choose who
  they want to have sex with

• Doesnt cost her anything, tough on males

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Gilberts Friends
What some females find sexy

• Cyrtocara Eucisnostomus (specific fish)

• Males judged on tallest sandcastles
• Takes nearly two weeks to build

Fish grows to about four inches, while tallest
sandcastles can be built as long as 40 inches
(underwater)
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Gilberts Friends
What some females find sexy

• Hammer Headed Bat (West Africa)

• Females prefer bats who can honk loudest
• During breeding season, males honk for hours to
  get attention

Voice box occupies more than half the body
cavity
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So Why A Lek?
1st Reason

• Females are attracted to groups rather than
  males all by themselves

• The larger the lek, the more attractive to the
  female (so size matters)

• Peacock leks have room for those who lack sex
  appeal (so Gilbert has a chance)

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So Why A Lek?
2nd Reason

• Find brothers and half brothers to lek with

• Even if Gilbert never finds a mate, he helps
  attract mates by being there
  (taking one for the team)

• Since Gilbert and his brothers share genes, he
  passes on his genes by helping them pass on theirs

10
Peacock Brotherhood

• Peacock brotherhood recognizes it own when
  forming leks
• Secret Society for peacocks

Gilberts Lek
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Fraternal Cooperation
Lions are most famous example of fraternal
cooperation

• Lionesses live in family groups and rear cubs in
  joint litters (lucky males)

• Larger coalition of lions, longer they hold on
  to a pride

• More male cubs longer future for coalitions

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Fraternal Cooperation
Lionesses have evolved

• When a female gives birth to a large litter,
  there are typically more males born

• When several females give birth in a pride
  simultaneously, cubs predominately male

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Lion Coalition
Circle of Life
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THE END