Private parts for private property: evolution of penis size with more valuable, easily stolen shells.

ABSTRACT: Evolution has generated enormous diversity in animal genitalia. However, the importance of private property in driving penis size evolution has rarely been explored. Here, I introduce a novel hypothesis, the 'private parts for private property' hypothesis, which posits that enlarged penises evolved to prevent the theft of property during sex. I tested this hypothesis in hermit crabs, which carry valuable portable property (a shell) and which must emerge from this shell during sex, risking social theft of their property by eavesdroppers. I measured relative penis size (penis-to-body ratio) for N = 328 specimens spanning nine closely related species. Species carrying more valuable, more easily stolen property had significantly larger penis size than species carrying less valuable, les

SUBMITTER: Laidre ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6366222 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature