Short-Term Mating Dance - Baba Brinkman

Assembling in these dense colonies

Provides the social stimulation

That is the key to coordinating their breeding

Tonight’s documentary presentation

Will explore the short-term mating behaviour

Of one of the most remarkable creatures in all creation

The Homo sapien

Homo sapiens, also known as «humans»

Generally mate in pairs, creating the illusion

Of a monogamous constitution

But the truth is slightly more elusive

As is often the case as evolution advances

The preferred strategy depends on circumstances

And scientists, seeking answers

Look to these elaborate courtship dances

Males and females congregate

In large colonies to display their traits

They often fail to find long-term mates

But so much flesh will not go to waste

And it’s now that the advantages

Of breeding in such dense colonies become clear

We’ve got a short-term mating dance

Up in here, up in here, up in here

They’ve come to breed

We’ve got a short-term mating dance

Up in here, up in here, up in here

Note the sexual dimorphism

The enlarged male form is invariably caused

By competition for female attention

Charles Darwin called this «sexual selection»

But the females also compete

For male parental investment

For this species, like no other

Has a grotesquely prolonged adolescence

Given this fact of developmental anatomy

Some have questioned whether a naturally-

Selected short-term female mating strategy

Could even exist, but in fact, it’s mathematically

Certain, for, every short-term copulation

That results in conception requires the participation

Of one male and one female, hence

There must be a mutual inclination

And it’s now that the advantages

Of breeding in such dense colonies become clear

We’ve got a short-term mating dance

Up in here, up in here, up in here

Females can make their choice from many males

While successful males can have access

To lots of females

One theory is short-term mating

For long-term gain, females may appraise

The quality of mates from a single liaison

To decide whether to allow them to stay on

Concealed ovulation allows frequent mating

With little fear of conception

And keeps males guessing — those who excel

In dominance competitions enjoy short-term preference

Which suggests that it’s all about the father’s genetics

The best ones for feathering the nest

And providing temporary protection, may not be

The best ones for siring sexy sons

But of course, this can be dangerous

The scientific study of Homo sapiens

Is rather recent, so we can only speculate

On the reasons for much of their extraordinary behaviour

And it’s now that the advantages

Of breeding in such dense colonies become clear

We’ve got a short-term mating dance

Up in here, up in here, up in here

They’ve come to breed

We’ve got a short-term mating dance

Up in here, up in here, up in here

They’ve come to breed

We’ve got a short-term mating dance

Up in here, up in here, up in here

They’ve come to breed

After a few days, this gigantic spawning

Comes to an end