Which male creature can get pregnant and give birth?
Seahorse males do something highly unusual in the animal kingdom; they get pregnant and deliver their offspring. Scientists don't have a clear reason why seahorses evolved this way, but they theorize this is one of the ways seahorses try to help the species survive. Neither parent gets involved in the child-rearing, though. When the male delivers the babies, they are on their own.
What are your thoughts on this subject?
69 Comments
Marian Spitzig
Not true at all. The male receive the eggs from the female, and carries them to maturation. Then they emerge, and swim away, on their own.
ninakamwene
Got it. Now share this with the human male, it's his turn. Ha-ha-ha. The human race would become extinct.
Lynne Zeman
It is true, Marian spitzig. The female deposits the eggs in the male, which then mixes with the male's sperm. But the male carries the "babies" just as a human uterus does. If impregnation does not constitute carrying the fetus' what does?
cgrhm
Marian Spitzig, yes it is true.carrying eggs to maturation is a pregnancy. Carrying the eggs is not a pregnancy. carrying them to maturation and giving birth is.
cgrhm
Marian Spitzig You're saying that it's not true, but agreeing with why it is true.yes, it is true. the male receives the eggs from the female, gets pregnant and gives birth.
Kevin Dale Streets
How did this question pass? More than one person commented on the inaccuracy.
Alexandrite
Learned this from the tv show Friends!
Kennedy Whitney
Karen S. Wolf, the broad is carried by and released by the Male hence giving birth
Peter Dwyer
ninakamwene, which would be good in most cases
guarnerediane
They are so cute & fascinating to me.
degranderhonda
It is under nature Donald Peterson,
Peter Thomas
Richard Thornton, my understanding is that the eggs are deposited in the male, THEN they are fertilized. So therefore it is the male that becomes pregnant, which is what the question is asking. Carrying a fertilized egg to maturation IS pregnancy!
Peter Thomas
Tony McGrath, no she is not - my understanding is that the eggs are deposited in the male, THEN they are fertilized. So therefore it is the male that becomes pregnant, which is what the question is asking. Carrying a fertilized egg to maturation IS pregnancy!
Peter Thomas
Marian Spitzig, my understanding is that the eggs are deposited in the male, THEN they are fertilized. So therefore it is the male that becomes pregnant, which is what the question is asking. Carrying a fertilized egg to maturation IS pregnancy!
Tinky
Donald Peterson, this is nature category
Rich
Pleased I got that
monicaligon
Got it... so fascinating
tinaloflin
They're really cute. Cutest fish in the sea.