How dinosaurs had sex: scientists solve the "mystery of the century"

Despite the fact that dinosaurs lived more than 60 million years ago, scientists know a lot about these great creatures: what they looked like, what they ate, and even how they became extinct. However, only now has the "mystery of the century" been solved: how did dinosaurs have sex?

Riley Black, an American paleontologist, says that dinosaurs probably had penises and mated like modern mammals, with the male climbing on top of the female. However, those species of extinct lizards that had large, sharp tails, such as the Stegosaurus, had to be "creative" during intercourse to avoid injuring themselves and their partners, writes DailyMail.

"For more than a century, paleontologists have pondered the question of how dinosaurs mated. Comparisons with living birds and crocodiles suggest that some representatives usually had a phallus or clitoris, although no conclusive evidence of such structures has yet been found," says Riley Black.

The specifics of dinosaur sex remain a mystery because reproductive organs do not fossilize, so they cannot be dug up after millions of years. However, researchers make reasonable assumptions about how these giants mated.

Paleontologists say that this process began with a courtship ritual that probably included scratching on the ground and coordinated movements similar to a "dance."

In support of this theory, in 2016, researchers discovered signs in what is now western Colorado that indicated that large carnivorous dinosaurs gathered at the site to scratch their feet on the ground. It was a demonstration of courtship to attract mates, a form of "prehistoric foreplay," biologists say.

It is believed that some species of dinosaurs evolved elaborate horns of different colors and shapes to attract the attention of potential suitors.

Scientists say that when the large lizards paired up, the male probably climbed on top of the female from behind, much like dogs and other mammals do today.

"All dinosaurs used the same basic mating position. Sitting behind her, the male would put his forelimbs on her shoulders, lifting one hind limb over the female's back and tucking his tail under hers," described the sexual act the legendary English paleontologist Beverley Halstead, who was one of the first to study this intimate topic.

Zoologist and educational scientist Luis Villazon said that dinosaurs mated "a little bit like giraffes," meaning quickly because they weighed up to 80 tons.

"The actual moment of copulation was probably very short to minimize the mechanical stress on both partners. The male may have thrown one leg over the female's tail and used a relatively long, stretchy penis to reach his partner's genitals," Villazon suggested.

According to Riley Black, Stegosaurus, which had plates and spikes on its back and tail, had to use the most "creative" positions to avoid getting hurt.

Scientists hope that in the coming years, paleontologists will make new discoveries about the sex life of dinosaurs.

"Dinosaurs that were courting and copulating could have left their distinctive marks on an ancient surface, showing how they moved and positioned themselves relative to each other," Black added.

"Since there are still many mysteries about dinosaur sex, the fossil record is still likely to contain many surprises about how these giants made the earth tremble," the paleontologist concluded.

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