Mammalian Sexuality
The Act of Mating and the Evolution of Reproduction

The first detailed account of post-copulatory sexual selection and the evolution of reproduction in mammals.

Alan F. Dixson (Author)

9781108426183, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 3 June 2021

400 pages
25 x 17.4 x 2.3 cm, 0.92 kg

'… Mammalian Sexuality was a pleasure to read, filled with novel insights, as well as dramatic, carefully described details of mammalian mating. I expect that although there is more yet to learn about mammalian sexuality, this volume is bound to be one of those books that never gathers dust on the shelf.' Patricia Adair Gowaty, The Quarterly Review of Biology

There are more than 6000 species belonging to twenty-seven orders in the Class Mammalia. Comparative studies of this diverse and magnificent array of extant species provide valuable opportunities to formulate and test hypotheses concerning the evolution of reproduction. This is the first book to explore, in depth and breadth, the complex interrelationships that exist between patterns of mating behaviour and the evolution of mammalian reproductive anatomy and physiology. It focuses upon the role that copulatory and post-copulatory sexual selection have played during the evolution of the monotremes, marsupials and placental mammals, and examines the effects of sperm competition and cryptic female choice upon coevolution of the genitalia in the two sexes. In addition, due weight is also given to discussions of the modes of life of mammals, and to the roles played by natural selection and phylogeny in determining their reproductive traits.

Preface
Acknowledgements
Part I. Carnival of the Animals: 1. Quo Vadis?
2. Mammalian classification and evolution
Part II. The Act of Mating: 3. Copulatory patterns: phylogeny and modes of life
4. Copulatory interactions and sexual selection
Part III. The Evolution of Reproduction: 5. Phallic structure and function
6. The testes and spermatozoa
7. The accessory reproductive glands and ducts
8. Cooperation, conflict, and cryptic female choice
9. The evolution of mating-induced and spontaneous ovulation
Part IV. Epilogue: 10. An end of day glass.

Subject Areas: Wildlife: mammals [WNCF], Zoology: Mammals [PSVW7], Animal behaviour [PSVP], Animal reproduction [PSVH], Animal physiology [PSVD], Evolution [PSAJ]