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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
No, they've always been with each other since they pair-bonded. They've never been with anyone else.
But you didn't suspect they were both male until when?
A couple of years ago. When I first started [working with them], I started thinking that they were both males based on their behavior. We did a blood test for other reasons and were able to determine that they were both male. [Blood tests are the only way to determine the sex of a penguin.]
What kind of behavior are you talking about?
Their sizes are similar to male sizes. Generally females are a bit smaller than the males. Females don't vocalize as much as the males do, they tend not to be as aggressive as the males are.
How do Wendell and Cass court each other?
They do it the same way a female and a male would do it. But generally, Cass will approach Wendell and do those postures called bowing. And they do something called flipper-slapping.
What does flipper-slapping look like?
The male usually comes up behind the female and hugs her and taps her with his flippers. And sometimes vocalizations are involved.
What does that sound like?
Like a donkey. I can't even imitate it. That's how they got the name "jackass" penguin. It's a braying sound.
So Cass and Wendell do this, too?
Yes. Mostly, I see Cass actually mating with Wendell, playing the male role, but we have seen Wendell mate with Cass.
Does one take on the female role and one take on the male role in other ways?
Well, you know, that's a tough thing to say. Based on penguin characteristics, Cass tends to be more aggressive, more masculine. He does the male thing. Whether Wendell is with a male because he's a meek male, I don't know. But he's a 'fraidy-cat; he's afraid of his own shadow. He's a very difficult bird.
What do you mean?
He's really nervous, and it's hard to feed him and perform medical exams on him. He's a finicky eater. And though he's not aggressive toward the penguins, he's very wary of the keepers.
How do Wendell and Cass have sex?
They're doing the same thing as a male and female would, though obviously not producing any eggs. But the copulation is the same. I can give you specific details ...
Go ahead.
Penguins are birds and all the sexual organs are on the inside of their bodies -- it's called the cloaca. The urogenital opening is where they defecate as well as have sex. It's just this little hole in their rump area.
And it's called the cloacal kiss: What happens is that the female will lay on her belly and the male climbs on top with his feet and puts his rump around her rump and their cloacas meet each other, and then the sperm gets transferred into the female.
So Wendell and Cass do the same thing.
Right. Just without the eggs.
Is it fun?
No idea. We've never done a blood test to track brain activity or anything like that. There's no bodily reaction to mating like in some animals.
But they have an active, happy sex life?
