Copulation (zoology)

In zoology, copulation is animal sexual behavior in which a male introduces sperm into the female's body, especially directly into her reproductive tract.^[1]^[2] This is an aspect of mating. Many animals that live in water use external fertilization, whereas internal fertilization may have developed from a need to maintain gametes in a liquid medium in the Late Ordovician epoch.^{[citation needed]} Internal fertilization with many vertebrates (such as all reptiles, some fish, and most birds) occurs via cloacal copulation, known as cloacal kiss (see also hemipenis), while most mammals copulate vaginally, and many basal vertebrates reproduce sexually with external fertilization.^[3]^[4]

^ Michael Kent (2000). Advanced biology. Oxford University Press. pp. 250–253. ISBN 0199141959. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
^ "Copulation". The Free Dictionary. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
^ Cecie Starr; Christine Evers; Lisa Starr (2010). Cengage Advantage Books: Biology: A Human Emphasis. Cengage Learning. pp. 630–631. ISBN 978-1133170051. Retrieved December 9, 2010.
^ Edward J. Denecke Jr. (2006). New York State Grade 8 Intermediate Level Science Test. Barron's Educational Series. p. 105. ISBN 0764134337. Retrieved December 9, 2014.