The evolution of animal genitalia - Menno Schilthuizen

View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/the-evoluti...
Genitals are the fastest-evolving organs in the animal kingdom. But why is this so? And what’s the point of having decorative private parts? Menno Schilthuizen explains how the evolutionary biology of nature's nether regions uncovers a hidden world of seduction, conflict, and rivalry.
Lesson by Menno Schilthuizen, animation by Mette Ilene Holmriis.

[@hamsandwich9775]

Can we just have some respect for the animator. They had to literally call him up and say we need pictures of a dozen different animal genitalia. And then they had to research it and look it up

[@PV-re8kd]

Agreed! 😀

[@agiy1029]

totally and they really nailed it!

[@billiboussmith3700]

copious amounts of marijauna had to be involved lollolo

[@andersk]

Plot twist: he was Welsh and this was right up his alley

[@cuahangkeo4151]

seriously, mad respect !

[@artwelve22]

So you’re telling me that ducks actually “screw” each other?

[@kw9568]

Not really if the female doesnt want to participate. Lol

[@anthonyc4138]

@@kw9568 lol

[@jonstfrancis]

@@kw9568 I suppose it just means that drake is screwed

[@kw9568]

@@jonstfrancis Drake??? 🤔

[@jonstfrancis]

@@kw9568 Male duck is called a drake.

[@Hav3nMaina]

I am ashamed to say that I know more about animal genitalia than I do about human genitalia

[@Muni_Puni]

HAV3N that’s really sad

[@uttamdas5834]

You are ashamed for being smarter?

[@randomhuman1754]

That's a weird fetish

[@56mystikalmajik]

@@randomhuman1754 LMAO

[@birb9041]

F

[@alexgoodhindconditioning970]

Ted ed: answering the questions noone asked but strangely enough everyone clicked on

[@hethweek2116]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2W7Xqx-dpujnMU

[@amitshirazi5285]

חד משמעית

[@wren_.]

imagine being born as a male crane fly and you’re literally just the vibrator

[@dr.faraday6447]

I'd like to meet the guy who spent his life discovering the wonders of the female genitalia of the flea...

[@jacobkeffer8437]

yo who's asking?

[@lucaslayton3974]

You never met your dad?

[@diamondcastle2209]

One of them was Charles Darwin who studied Barnacle dicks~

[@marshallzingkhai889]

😂😂😂

[@vanillacherub6847]

I'm dead😂 I can't stop laughing

[@juxtapoison5110]

"the genes of the most musical penises" ~TED- Ed

[@RainintheBrain]

While there is an Australian "Artist" (Mad-man) named Pricasso who uses his penis to paint.

[@FlyingSnake]

Laser Shield what an amazing phrase

[@warhawkjah]

Beoyoyoiyoiying!

[@eniolaadelana3811]

I'm laughing hard right now

[@YorkShire-fb1jq]

💀

[@AliceInChains.]

This was terrifying and informative.

[@HopeRock425]

More terrifying than your profile pic.

[@sm00thbutter]

Yes Fiona you are so terrifying

[@thebrazilianluigi2142]

@@alinasirop4410 Alrighty, bot, Ill report you right there.

[@luuvi7911]

yes

[@curtin9]

....the male bypasses the genitalia and stabs the female in the side... going directly for the egg. WHOA!!!!!!

[@Inkan1969]

4:39 - You'll never look at Daisy and Donald in quite the same way.

[@PV-re8kd]

OMG nooo!!!!

[@Camphreneas]

*_Oh dear…_*

[@Inkan1969]

@@Camphreneas I dare Don Rosa write a comic about this.

[@yocyose]

This was very educational but weird to watch

[@coweatsman]

Learning a musical instrument is masturbation.

[@anthonyjh02]

coweatsman Ah. I see.

[@ariesrule2001]

I know right

[@tibaazher2792]

I know,so true

[@notforkidsph5258]

I was reading this comment and the sametime looking at this profile pic it makes me feel weird

[@cammo-ez5sg]

Started from ancient roman history now we here

[@dainbaughnsmith3638]

Cammo 9706 same

[@pacoramon9468]

Are you me?

[@localidiot4157]

same-

[@carryon5021]

I guess, you evolved.

[@avradeepmukherjee4006]

Same here buddy

[@RaptorCakes]

I knew Duck reproductive systems were messed up, but I thought it was just a weird scenario... Its actually a cool fact that the female can straight up reject the interaction by flexing her body because of its shape

[@nixl3518]

If the info is correct, the animation is wrong. Corkscrew IN, corkscrew OUT. Also, how "cool" do you find being allowed IN, then she changes her mind??? Kind of nuts, I'd say, or would that be in keeping with being female? If we did that, there would be no human species.

[@dinthevoidalspeck2582]

wish our could do that, actually ours seem really underdeveloped compared to other species

[@champanzee6486]

@@dinthevoidalspeck2582 Human evolution takes much longer because we live longer lives

[@ZaHandle]

It’s simple and it works, except that women can’t really aim when peeing

[@burnyizland]

@@ZaHandle Oh yes we can. We just don't have a lifetime of practice at it so there's a learning curve, but we absolutely can. I often pee standing up when using public restrooms or camping.

[@PlatinumRBX]

I learnt 2 things: *musical pee pee and cat in the hat vageegee*

[@trucywrightirl]

if this had been more cursed I'd put “r/cursedcomments”-

[@Zex-4729]

"If you answered 'duck vagina' you'd be right." best TED-ED i have ever seen.

[@mediokay508]

"We also have questions."

[@naedeezy8967]

I literally cried😭

[@mrcomp1971]

Probably the weirdest video I've found in my recommendations...

[@KaiBannon]

me too

[@pyrophoris]

same

[@MrJustinUSCM]

mrcomp goddamnit I see you everywhere, even on the weirest videos in my recomended

[@yaku8013]

mrcomp same XD

[@Greenstim]

mrcomp same

[@tamar7065]

I was always confused by the "arms race" factoid about ducks. This helps explain it a lot better. Wild to think that there is competition for control going on at the biological level.

[@luda.chrisotzz]

I thought that was just a fall out boy song lyric

[@Nico_2202]

Why’d you have to give them those facial expressions???

[@averagecalisthenicsguy1504]

‌

[@northern830]

@@averagecalisthenicsguy1504 ok

[@hidden8685]

@@averagecalisthenicsguy1504 no need to get political

[@tanmaygusain1316]

To make them look humane...

[@eliashernandez9511]

@@averagecalisthenicsguy1504 brub i cant even see your comment

[@lisx.x]

What?! Rubbing, smacking, music?!! I'm just gonna go in a corner and think about life.

[@asoul3919]

Good choice, you mind if i join you?

[@yenshirou]

lol

[@dianacarvalho482]

Room for one more?

[@seaotter4439]

Yeah, but does it have the *_m o u t h f e e l_*

[@tatir7081]

Oddly kinky, but got room for more at that corner?

[@JS-hh5xk]

4:15 am I the only own that felt sad for the poor bedbug

[@LaughingLimbo]

Ryder no ;-; that poor bedbug why did they have to make them so cute

[@mightydragongamer8712]

Ryder i felt bad too

[@junqin2560]

No. I was turned on

[@cambamslam3510]

@@junqin2560 hey. You stop that.

[@rubythedragon7945]

Nah bro

[@FaridShahidinejad]

Whomever was tasked with creating the storyboard deserves some credit for being challenged with this difficult task.

[@wooidroo2266]

0:13 *Why the heck would I guess that*

[@amarisrosalette3694]

*Exactly.*

[@beachbunnystan9625]

Lol

[@beachbunnystan9625]

Fr

[@sirvix9024]

@@beachbunnystan9625 shut up

[@sirvix9024]

@@beachbunnystan9625 shut up fr

[@mar-hk3ou]

The voice actor of the video Probably would have been very uncomfortable making this video

[@dontspikemydrink9382]

why would they have been?

[@Alkalus]

because he's talking about genitalia in front of viewers which can make them uncomfortable too

[@Vertutame]

they didn't show them the video or the context :]

[@uhhuh1291]

Alvin Wu I don’t really see the problem here. But ok, I guess I can see where you are coming from with that statement.

[@jcbgy3225]

TBH the person who sent this topic to them has probably never thought it would be a reality

[@theaxehandle1]

*reads title* "always a good ice-breaker topic"

[@flyingcapsicum]

You might have to, there's a critical spelling error here.

[@TheGrape-fh8mr]

So this is what Kaguya-sama meant by “love is war”

[@Just_A_Guy_Here.]

I'm your 100th liker here & bye.

[@stevenwilkins1802]

Me: “Walking in the Jungle” The Trees start make music Also Me: “I’m gonna go let you guys get some privacy

[@tibaazher2792]

Hahahah 😂, yeah

[@martablaze917]

Time to delete my history

[@kriistaan162]

Salty Pepper lmaoo same

[@innanis1163]

same goes for me

[@Loki-en6ii]

Same

[@miguelpadeiro762]

Destroyer Of Worlds it is

[@user-bk8yd6sf6t]

Yup

[@guyinacage]

*Demonetized*

[@patrickhoe84]

Too bad, ted-Ed are non-profited

[@louise4152]

It's for educational purposes, which isn't against the rules

[@josephsulaiman9959]

non profit doesnt mean revenue isnt generated

[@anthonyjh02]

Patrick Hoe Took this comment a year but I’m your 1,000th like

[@stevetate9351]

Yandere simulator isn’t ad friendly but this is apparently

[@bharbarawyrstwaemasyn8741]

That intro. . . Wow. I bet the narrator had a blast saying that one 😂

[@sxleong]

2:19 never thought that this was something I'd hear in my lifetime

[@pratib9663]

🤣

[@boundnboundaries9503]

"most musical penises" Never thought I'd hear those words in my life.

[@faznapkin1631]

peterboy90 same here

[@ryanl9902]

This is what I love about TED-Ed videos. They cover such a huge range of topics and somehow make each and every one of them interesting and educational. Thank you for these incredible videos!

[@metteilene]

Thank you :) I am so happy you enjoyed our video. It means a lot!

[@katelyncullen6769]

I honestly think these videos would be a lot more educational than a teacher harping on about the exact same thing for an extra half an hour, don't you?

[@totallyasmr8444]

Katelyn Cullen My science teacher in my freshman year talked about electricity for 1/3 of the school year.

[@JoeMama-ln8vc]

Ryan Lai not when they are teaching sex education to little children.

[@TheCriticFromSouth]

@@metteilene Congratulations, Mette! Very educational yet funny video.

[@jm6169]

4:13 *I S H E R A P I N G H E R?*

[@hescrem9316]

Welcome to the animal kingdom, where they dont care what humans think~ cannibalism is also a common practice in nature

[@jonathanbastard4629]

Yes

[@greatvalue_ethelcain]

No, but they shouldn’t have added that expression 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@VanellamonSpring]

@@greatvalue_ethelcain RESPECT

[@cardboardethymith3893]

While stabbing her...

[@MiruKitsune]

2:15 P E N I S M U S I C

[@Nawor1996]

so why is human genitalia so comparatively simple structurally?

[@kayyumamcaoglu8671]

Rowan McMullan maybe because females select the best mate via socialisation so they don't need any needless actions to select their males

[@42Fossy]

Rowan McMullan I'm guessing it's because we have a complex social system to distinguish good mates from bad, so theoretically, a bad mate will never end up in your bed in the first place? Obviously this isn't always the case, but we clearly don't go about sex the same way animals do.

[@metholuscaedes6794]

Generational shifts are important, the more generations that can shift in a given time, the more things can happen, humans with comparativly long lifespans I gues simply dont mutate as oddly. *also the other given reasons as per above.

[@festiverespecttrackingfanc6644]

I think it's because we don't mate much and in joung ages so it evolves much slower than the animals who reproduce quickly like insects. Maybe one day our genitalia will be something now unthinkable. Also we decide who to mate with.

[@georgemargaris]

Rowan McMullan , human genitalia ARE the most complex when you also count the external abstractions of genitalia to it, like cars, clothes, wallets, etc to it

[@bigdip0108]

12:00 Just one more video. 3:00 THE EVOLUTION OF ANIMAL GENETALIA

[@SilverGamingFI]

It is literally 0.42AM for me and I am watching this video

[@SeeraFinis]

01:41 rn 😂

[@jiazeng6485]

@@SeeraFinis oh lord same how did this happen

[@cpubanana9757]

2017: nothing 2018: nothing 2019: youtube recommendation 3 times

[@sandituazamajr.2525]

2020 :coppa 2021:bruh

[@HayTatsuko]

The narration and animation in this are top-notch. It's fascinating to see the myriad variations of equipment various creatures use to procreate. One of my favorites in clever natural design is that of the lake drake, which not only has a relatively enormous tool for the job, but also bears a brush on said tool's end to whisk away a previous suitor's offering.

[@glorysky1998]

I want to exit this video, but I also want to see what he is going to say next

[@averagecalisthenicsguy1504]

‌

[@almadelsur01]

Suddenly, 50 shades of gray seems tame in comparison

[@PV-re8kd]

💀💀

[@UP4014]

Nobody: My recommended: “the evolution of animal genitalia”

[@gaurav_bora_]

"musical penises" the two words I thought I would never hear together.

[@papercraftnony4431]

This video sure is... informative.

[@awkward_bean5076]

Papercraft Nony pinoy ka hehe

[@aaronosanceda9141]

waw ikaw ba ay filipino well i am

[@awkward_bean5076]

Aaron O Sanceda well what a wierd place to fnd each other lol

[@Krone0k]

Pilipino ka Hindi ako ng alam

[@brunosainz6279]

One of the weirdest Ted ed videos

[@dainbaughnsmith3638]

Bruno Sainz *The weirdest

[@UnkindledIncandescent]

Weirdest dildos in the world.

[@juanitoguanobacoa4228]

Go and see "The story through the eyes of a chicken"

[@hescrem9316]

Ted ed can get pretty weird, my guy

[@porogami7yearsagoedited754]

Lessons worth sharing

[@codytaylor9259]

4:06: Ouch!

[@CuteNarpNarpPlush]

This gave me nightmares

[@reneumeh8601]

4:15 And she thought it was going to be a normal tinder date

[@abhaadhikari809]

🤣🤣

[@lemillion6926]

2:30 Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “beating them cheeks”.😂😂

[@seaotter4439]

*_drum on my cheeks daddy_*

[@AbdullahKhan-qm3ks]

@@seaotter4439 ok

[@IdiotToonz]

goddamn animals are masochistic

[@justinl2009]

@@seaotter4439 Sir this is a McDonalds, please leave.

[@chickentail7108]

Who says “beating them cheeks”?

I've never heard this new narrator before. But he sounds good!

Yeah. I heard that some animals have interesting penises and vaginas but now knowing it makes me feel uneasy.

[@bensalmond2161]

This is the best video I've ever seen, honestly, its so well made, and summarises such complex variation extremely well.

[@__bird]

Me: One more video and i'm going to bed. Me at 3am: The evolution of animal genitalia - Menno Schilthuizen

[@salon9417]

Am I the only one who clicked on this video not for the content, but for a comment section?

[@regularguy1837]

Oh we're talking about animal genitalia now? YESSSSS!!! This is my favorite subject

[@bunille]

.-.

[@branflakes2600]

...

[@EclipsedShadowK]

Regular guy I... kinda... agree, in one way... :T

[@clare2385]

these were exactly my thoughts actually

[@Googledeservestodie]

yiff yiff

[@lelianarochefort3077]

4:20 that is traumatizing

[@aeronlangheim3462]

Well, the term for that is literally traumatic insemination, so you're right!

[@CuteNarpNarpPlush]

Don't worry it traumatized me too

[@ziyougu9018]

4:13 That sound and facial expression tho... I actually felt bad for the bed bug 😢😭😅

[@TXLionHeart]

Hands down the funniest Ted-Ed video I've ever watched...

[@jonathonsmith6831]

You must be below 10 years old

[@jpthepug3126]

@@jonathonsmith6831 why they put the faces of joy tho

[@funnelvisionlexi8755]

(Cat in the hat) There goes my childhood

[@abstractaxolotl7116]

FUNnel Vision Lexi same here, same here...

[@milkr0460]

FUNnel Vision Lexi oh no

[@klutz3955]

so does mine

[@craigh2234]

FUNnel Vision Lexi we slay all day

[@winwin66288]

*666 LIKES*

[@adorabledork89]

The animation is stunning!! But I never expected to be intrigued by this, GOOD JOB for keep me interested 👍🏻

[@subatomicduck7523]

1:08 this is how I'll explain to my future kids how babies are made 😂 😂 😂

[@truongcahanh8915]

For a topic as...awkward as this one, the lovely animation, the funny sound effects and the eloquent voice of the narrator makes it one of the most fascinating topics I’ve seen on ted ed

[@malikhalilovic7996]

And I voted this channel as the best educational channel on KZbin.

[@deepstariaenigmatica2601]

cos it is

[@lizkhaylin2141]

You see, this is why Ted-ed stands out from other informative videos, they turn something rather uncomfortable to see, into an entertaining video that is well thought through and animated beautifully.

[@123igotyourknee]

How is this not 18+ yet-

[@seanbarry1757]

Wtf am i doing i have school tomorrow

[@alexwoogie462]

Same

[@anrtaverma5992]

I have an exam tomorrow, yet I'm here watching this instead of studying

[@daniellehilson4282]

Sean Barry same

[@ignacioherrera1006]

Same...

[@thebleachseller844]

me too

[@dos.1277]

0:15 Yes, I got it right

[@Arttective]

So even the entirety of animal kingdom mating when I walk through the park alone?

[@swapnilmishra4123]

This deserves an appreciation.....such a complex thing with such easy explanation that too with a meaningful animation...😀hats off

[@Heazon]

It was really weird watching this with someone else in the room.

[@nyaama2030]

Same here

[@midoriyaizuku9398]

Harrison Tran lol im in school

[@jackassraptormongoloidensi2907]

Nah its not when you put on your earphones which I do everyday

[@dirtboi3571]

What happened to red guy and yellow guy?

[@potatoknishes4498]

Harrison Tran my moms in the room XD

[@itsxavier395]

2:00 what the actual flub

[@traygrimmobile586]

T H E M O S T M U S I C A L P E N I S E S

[@IdiotToonz]

*_fifty tunes of gray_*

[@freddie9314]

Me: HELP, IM LOST. Random someone: Oh here’s a map. Me: this is just a map of the weird side of KZbin Exactly.

[@ryan-ov3jg]

2:44 bro wtf

[@jeanelle7712]

Well, I know which topic im going to do on my science project

[@Nakai865]

Oh god XD

[@LughSummerson]

Addison (the usual narrator): "I'm not going to read that!"

[@eddie246]

I'm happy this channel uses animation

[@gangsterspongebobofficial6906]

remember that there are scientists actively studying this stuff.

[@paulimsfilms2170]

You only made this because everyone got a kick out of it when you said kangaroos have 3 vaginas, didn't you?

[@johnjackson8166]

I feel mildly uncomfortable

[@RV_UGGERILAYA]

so far the most fascinating, astonishing and awe-inspiring video of TED....

[@parichehrmhrpyn964]

This was one of the most interesting things i've ever watched! Animation, context, etc... absolutely fascinating=D!

[@michaelthompson2363]

I never thought that there were so many complex reproductive organs! This is the kind of crazy stuff that I watch this awesome channel for!

[@bobbybrown8479]

Why did I press this

[@Powerdestroyer]

Bobby Brown We are all asking that at this point.

[@lornagregg5826]

Agreed

[@cobblestone100mc]

Same

[@sauceaddict9569]

Same😂😂

[@badnewstalkstech6900]

Because you wanted to learn some science

[@bl6973]

Whoever animated this deserves a raise

[@lucasreid5459]

4:43 OMG I'M SO WORRY, THOUGHT IT GONNA BEND TILL IT CRACK FOR A BIT.

[@wafiqessop4034]

Now *this* will get lots of views

[@MonsterGaming-fz4fs]

1:53 But when humans do it, we get arrested for indecent exposure

[@BenDover-vs2oq]

Yes because we’re not bugs

[@sunnybowos266]

@@BenDover-vs2oq maybe you missed the joke

[@BenDover-vs2oq]

@@sunnybowos266 called adding to the joke

[@sunnybowos266]

@@BenDover-vs2oq I could just as easily say that I too was adding to the joke

[@BenDover-vs2oq]

@@sunnybowos266 you right

[@josephjackson1956]

This is *DEFINITELY* worth sharing

[@djfreem6881]

Whoever voiced this without laughing needs a thousand dollar raise

[@bigboomer1013]

This is really interesting. I have always wondered how the genitals of each animal or bug is like and its crazy to think about how complex it is.

[@erinc9159]

I'm surprised that this video did not get demonitised

[@cammo-ez5sg]

Because its "educational" well ok you win

[@lornagregg5826]

It’s because science

[@craigpo2927]

erin crawford educational genitalia are the only genitalia allowed on youtube, i guess

[@LaughingLimbo]

erin crawford just add the words Scientific and you can claim almost anything educational

[@Lilowillow42]

Ted-ed are non-profit from start.

[@sajidcoloma9277]

One of the most informative videos in TedEd videos eva!

[@shubhamsarkar2186]

I seriously love the cartoons TED People make. It makes long books short to understand.

[@AlperMusic]

I've been on youtube for many years but this video is the weirdest.

[@diegoandre8881]

Ahh yessss welcome back to the weird part of the internet again.

[@jasmineyansen5800]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

[@lornagregg5826]

Most of are thinking about life right now

[@gendoikari7195]

This aint weird. This is what you would call education.

[@Lisargarza]

Arguably the best graphics on insect genitalia and copulation that I’ve ever seen.

[@filippo6157]

Actually, congrats to the narrator for keeping serious in a video as full of... well... *strange* things, I would have bursted out laughing a lot of times.

[@temishoyemi949]

Of course this is the one video I'm early for

[@martymitch8375]

A serenade made by penises. What a time to be alive.

[@dumbsleepyidiot]

Damn how am I already here at only 9:00pm?

[@kiarona.]

1:15 - the way he delivered those lines with no trace of laughter and completely seriously - "A pipette-like thingy on the male and a funnel-like gizmo on the female" SIR

[@TwisteDxBoi]

And us humans, stuck with a boring, almost ineffective genitals

[@heluvzoya]

TwisteDxBoi is that really a bad thing?😶

[@groslait7814]

TwisteDxBoi well...we are not sticking here since people want a much bigger one .

[@tyyonnawoods91]

@Han wan 😶😶😶😶😶

[@lalaland-pc6er]

@Bugsy Segal sis🙊

[@raphuscucullatus7845]

I’m sure you had a lot of fun :wink:

[@Sam-hd7iy]

why am I watching this

[@neventomicic330]

I am asking myself that question too.

[@onecommunistboi]

Because it is interesting?

[@kingv-raptor840]

69 likes

[@mlpwonderbolts6062]

p.05 the world may never know😂

[@dainbaughnsmith3638]

p.05 because you are board.

[@emofrom-mq8tt]

Residual information from this video I watched years ago came in clutch for the Zoology exam today. Watching it again as a tribute 😌

[@webby3109]

Very good starting information for the work I’m planning on going into. I already knew the duck thing, but other than that, this was all new to me.