Lordosis behavior

Lordosis behavior seen in different mammals. Clockwise from top left: cats, hamsters, elephants, and eastern gray squirrels.

Lordosis behavior (/lɔːrˈdoʊsɪs/^[1]), also known as mammalian lordosis (Greek lordōsis, from lordos "bent backward"^[1]) or presenting, is the naturally occurring body posture for sexual receptivity to copulation present in females of most mammals including rodents, elephants, and cats. The primary characteristics of the behavior are a lowering of the forelimbs but with the rear limbs extended and hips raised, ventral arching of the spine and a raising, or sideward displacement, of the tail. During lordosis, the spine curves dorsoventrally so that its apex points towards the abdomen.

^ ^a ^b "lordosis". The American Heritage Dictionary. Archived from the original on January 4, 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2017.

[American_Heritage_Dictionary_-_lordosis-1] "lordosis". The American Heritage Dictionary. Archived from the original on January 4, 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2017.

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