Nobody gives a thought about how sperms are created and look like, but they are the most important feature as it helps in the development of another human being. We listed the top 5 strangest sperm in the world.
- LONGEST SPERM
Studies prove that sperms are usually smaller than eggs but it is surprising that the sperms of the Drosophila Bifurca, a species of the fruit fly, holds the world record for producing the largest sperm. This species of fruit fly though being only a few millimeters long itself produces sperm of almost six centimeters in length. The longest sperm-producing species delivers the sperm cells to the females in tangled coils.
And the sperm cells consist mostly of a tail. It is a very well-known fact from various studies and researches that the longer the sperm cell is the fewer can it be produced and transferred to fertilize the female eggs. And thus, the females mate more frequently to ensure that their eggs get fertilized. Studies further show that because of this particular characteristic of the sperm cell, the females of this species choose only large and healthy males that can produce more sperm for egg fertilization.
The Washington Post reports that certain species of flies have the astonishing ability to produce coiled-up sperm that measures more than 2 inches in length, which is about 20 times their own body size. To put this in perspective, their sperm is approximately a thousand times longer than that of a human. If a human male of average height were to produce sperm proportional to the size of the fruit fly’s sperm, it would extend an incredible 120 feet in length.
- KILLING SPERM
One of the most unusual reproductive strategies is seen in Antechinus Agilis (a genus of small dasyurid marsupial found mostly in Australia). The male Antechinus mates for almost 15-16 hours and then literally die out of exhaustion. And it is because of this reason, this species is associated with the reputation of having a suicidal reproduction habit, also known as Semelparity. This behavior shows that they sacrifice their lives to impregnate the females with their sperm alone.
During the mating season, the males go into a sexual frenzy and have sexual intercourse with as many females as possible. This tiresome sexual activity harms their health and immunity, leading to organ disintegration, fur loss, and many other issues that ultimately kills them. The only explanation derived by researchers for the sex-crazy behavior it that they want their best sperm to impregnate as many females as possible.
- TEAM- EFFORT
Teamwork is said to be effective and efficient and this saying holds for the sperm cells released by the male Cataglyphis Savignyi or the desert ants. The queen ants of this species mates with multiple males in quick succession and stores their sperm jointly in a storage pouch known as spermatheca. The spermatozoa ejaculated by the male bundles and swim together to ensure that they reach the queen’s spermatheca first.
According to studies conducted sperm bundles swim almost two times faster than single cells of sperm. Studies also show that upon entering the storage pouch the sperm bundles break apart and stays there until the queen requires it to fertilize her eggs. Recent studies also show that the fertilization sources are directly proportional to the sperm contribution made by each male which means the more sperms produced by the male the higher chances it has got to reach the storage pouch faster than the others.
According to a research report in the Royal Society Publishing, an intriguing discovery has been made regarding the desert ant Cataglyphis savignyi, showcasing a remarkable example of collaboration among spermatozoa. Male ants release bundles containing 50–100 spermatozoa that exhibit a remarkable 51% increase in swimming speed when compared to individual sperm cells. This synchronized team swimming is thought to greatly enhance the quantity of sperm stored in the queen’s spermatheca, ultimately leading to improved posthumous fitness for the male ants.
- TRAUMATIC INSEMINATION
Cimex lectularius or more commonly known as bed bugs mate in a very weird method called traumatic insemination. The males of this species are attracted to large body size and mount only freshly fed female for copulation. The part that makes it traumatic is that the male pierces the female’s abdomen with his external genitaxl or penis and ejaculates into the cavity of her body and not in her reproductive tract.
To reduce the wound or infection caused by the wound inflicted from the abdomen-stabbing method, a special purpose component known as the spermalege is found in female bed bugs. The injected sperm cells travel through the blood into the seminal conceptacles (sperm storage structure in females) and fertilize the eggs. This mechanism is proven by scientists to reduce the longevity of females of this species. The weirdest part is that the male bedbug cannot discriminate between genders and mounts on their nearest well-fed partner and wounds it even if it is another male, by this method.
- SLUGGISH SPERM
These creatures are neither moles nor rats, and, yet they are more commonly known as naked mole rats. What’s weirder is that the sperm produced by this species are termed as ‘couch potato sperm’ because of the lazy characteristics displayed by it. As per studies conducted, only about 7-8 % of the sperms actively swim to reach the egg and fertilize it. Maybe this sluggishness is because there is only one sexually active male to impregnate the queen in the naked mole-rat colonies, and thus, the sperms face no competition from other male sperms.
However, despite the lazy feature and the low motility of their sperms, naked-mole rats are fertile enough and their sperm produces healthy offspring. Some studies also suggest that this sperm behavior can be considered to be a fairly good model to that of humans as sperm competition is fairly low in humans too.
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- Sperm that smells its way
You may wonder how sperm find the direction to a mature egg. Although some may swim randomly, others go straight to the ovary.
In a 2014 article published by Vanderbilt University, scientists reported a groundbreaking discovery, revealing the presence of specialized chemical sensors known as odorant receptors (ORs) in mosquito sperm. Remarkably, these receptors were found to be identical to the ones that play a central role in the mosquito’s olfactory system, which is typically located on the insect’s antennae.
The sperm of a male mosquito has a sense of smell and follow a certain scent. This is similar to the antenna of the female mosquito that they use to locate blood sources for their eggs.
Receptors built in the sperm tails are sensitive to egg aroma. A specific scent sends by a mature female egg attracts them towards it.
Once the sperm recognize this scent, they start swimming excitedly toward the waiting egg. This receptor activates when the time is ripe for fertilization.
Besides the mosquito, researchers have found similar signals present in the sperm of other insects. These include fruit flies and wasps.
Human sperm isn’t that intelligent. Still, the sperm has adequate nutrients and food to swim and find the right spot to lay in and wait for the mature egg to drop from the fallopian tube.
- Lazy sperm
Most male mammals are used to producing millions of sperm. As such, there is stiff competition to reach the waiting egg.
But this is not the case with naked mole rats. They live in holes like ants and bees, where they survive under difficult conditions.
They lack adequate oxygen. Still, they are versatile, able to ward off cancers, and don’t even feel pain.
Yet their sperm are some of the weakest and most severely deformed in the animal kingdom. Their spermatozoa are so lazy they even refuse to swim toward the egg.
Their sperm quality is very poor and very little quantity. It’s not surprising that only 7% of ejaculate can swim.
And when they decide to move, they swim leisurely while the egg waits for the fastest lazy swimmer to enter its crust.
Perhaps these deformities and lack of urgency are due to the head female’s sexual preference.
Her, she chooses only one mate who doesn’t face any competition during mating.
- Wall burrow
You may think that the female reproductive organs are complicated. That is why sperm take an arduous journey from the vagina through the uterus and then into the fallopian tube to get to the waiting egg.
For bedbugs, the male ambush the female when she’s looking for food. He then stabs her anywhere with his sharp penis.
Mostly, it’s the female abdomen that bears the brunt of these stabs, and hence they develop bacteria-fighting cells to protect against infections. The sperm is deposited in the bloodstream.
The male reproductive cells then move through the body of the female bedbug looking for the nearest point to enter the sex organ.
When these cells reach the female’s heart, they puncture their way through the heart wall to penetrate the reproductive organ and reach the egg.
Penis stabbing could cause fatal injuries when the female bedbug encounters more than a fair share of horny and infected male penises during this process.
- Mood manipulators
Fruit flies are generally polygamous, meaning that both men and females mate with different partners. But sometimes, they may lack interest in other men after mating with one.
This is because the fruit fly sperm contains mood-altering hormones. Several studies show that semen from many insects and mammals contains a large cocktail of hormones designed to alter a female’s mood.
The sperm contents include proteins, endorphins, estrogen, oxytocin, serotonin, and thyrotropin-releasing hormones. These affect females’ appetite, libido, fertility, and even social craving.
The dramatic impacts of these mood-changing components in the seminal fluid could explain why female fruit flies would resist sexual advances from other males and accepts the same gesture from only one male.
Interestingly, this cocktail is also found in human semen. This is why a large proportion of women who have unprotected sex experience less depression, both in frequency and severity.
Still, it’s not advisable to risk STIs and pregnancy for the sake of a few days of happiness. So stick to having safe sex.
In conclusion, we have discussed content related to the top five strangest sperm and facts in the world. We hope we have provided enough information to help you learn more about sperm facts and abnormal sperm worldwide.
SIMILAR QUESTION
Do Some Men Have Super Sperm?
Introduction
The topic of super sperm has been a discussion for some time now. It has been argued that some men have sperm that are stronger and more fertile than other men. This has been based on studies that have shown that certain men have higher quality sperm than others. This paper will discuss the evidence for the existence of super sperm and will explore the potential implications for fertility and reproductive health.
What is Super Sperm?
Super sperm is a term used to describe sperm that is of higher quality and higher fertility than other men. It has been suggested that this could be due to genetic factors, environmental factors, or a combination of both. Some studies have suggested that men with higher quality sperm may have a genetic advantage that gives them an edge over other men in terms of fertility. It has also been suggested that certain environmental factors, such as diet and lifestyle, may contribute to higher quality sperm.
Evidence for Super Sperm
There is some evidence to suggest that some men have superior quality sperm. A study conducted in 2018 found that men who were identified as having higher quality sperm had a higher rate of successful pregnancies. The study also showed that these men had a higher rate of successful pregnancies even when controlling for other factors such as age and lifestyle.
Other studies have suggested that there may be genetic factors that contribute to superior quality sperm. A study conducted in 2019 found that certain genetic variants were linked to higher quality sperm. The study found that these variants were associated with higher motility, morphology, and concentration.
Implications
If it is true that some men have super sperm, it could have a significant impact on fertility and reproductive health. It has been suggested that men with higher quality sperm may be more likely to conceive a child, which could lead to an increase in population growth. It has also been suggested that this could be beneficial for those who are trying to conceive, as it may provide them with a better chance of success.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is some evidence to suggest that some men may have super sperm. This could be due to genetic factors or environmental factors, or a combination of both. If this is true, it could have a significant impact on fertility and reproductive health. Further research is needed to better understand the potential implications of super sperm.
