Developmental Basis of Phallus Reduction during Bird Evolution
Abstract
Summary. Background. One of the most puzzling events in evolution is the reduction and loss of the phallus in birds. All birds reproduce by internal fertilization, but only ∼3% of birds have retained a phallus capable of intromission. A number of hypotheses have been proposed for the evolutionary mechanisms that drove phallus reduction; however, the underlying developmental mechanisms are unknown.
- Publication:
-
Current Biology
- Pub Date:
- June 2013
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.cub.2013.04.062
- Bibcode:
- 2013CBio...23.1065H