This Worm Has Remarkable Capacity To Self-Inseminate

  • 9 years ago
The lack of a mate is an issue many species seeking to reproduce face, but one microscopic flatworm has developed a unique solution to the problem. It inseminates itself by poking a sperm filled spike located on its tail into its head.

The lack of a mate is an issue many species seeking to reproduce face, but one microscopic flatworm has developed a unique solution to the problem.
It inseminates itself by poking a sperm filled spike located on its tail into its head. 

While there are a number of animals that can produce young on their own due to possessing both sex organs, this is the first species known to handle it in this manner.

Under normal circumstances, they use the needle-like protrusions to fertilize other flatworms, typically aiming for their mate’s posterior. 

If no such opportunity is available, they resort to depositing their own sperm into their heads, which over time travels to where it needs to be. 

The re

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