iamlegend Posted October 19, 2014 Report Posted October 19, 2014 Ancient Scottish fish 'first to have sex' By Rebecca MorelleScience Correspondent, BBC News Artist's impression: The researchers believe the fish had to be side-by-side to copulate Continue reading the main story Related Stories Fish fossil clue to origin of sex Scientists believe they have discovered the origin of copulation. An international team of researchers says a fish called Microbrachius dickiis the first-known animal to stop reproducing by spawning and instead mate by having sex. The primitive bony fish, which was about 8cm long, lived in ancient lakes about 385 million years ago in what is now Scotland. The research is published in the journal Nature. Continue reading the main story “Start Quote They couldn't have done it in a 'missionary position'” Prof John LongFlinders University Lead author Prof John Long, from Flinders University in Australia, said: "We have defined the very point in evolution where the origin of internal fertilisation in all animals began. "That is a really big step." Prof Long added that the discovery was made as he was looking through a box of ancient fish fossils.
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