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Related: About this forumScientists discover giant sperm fossilized in bat guano...
http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/47396In a cave in Australia, researchers from the University of New South Wales discovered giant fossilized sperm. The sperm were produced 17 million years ago by a group of tiny, shelled crustaceans called ostracods, making them the oldest fossilized sperm ever found. The results were published recently in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
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Sperm size varies with each species, with ostracods producing some of the largest sperm relative to body size of any animal. However, the current record-holder for largest sperm goes to Drosophila bifurca, a species of fruit fly, whose sperm can be up to 5.8 centimeters (2.3 inches) long. In contrast, humans have some of the smallest sperm, at 0.004 centimeters (0.002 inches).
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"The Riversleigh fossil deposits in remote northwestern Queensland have been the site of the discovery of many extraordinary prehistoric Australian animals, such as giant, toothed platypuses and flesh-eating kangaroos. So we have become used to delightfully unexpected surprises in what turns up there," said co-author Mike Archer.
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Sperm size varies with each species, with ostracods producing some of the largest sperm relative to body size of any animal. However, the current record-holder for largest sperm goes to Drosophila bifurca, a species of fruit fly, whose sperm can be up to 5.8 centimeters (2.3 inches) long. In contrast, humans have some of the smallest sperm, at 0.004 centimeters (0.002 inches).
<...>
"The Riversleigh fossil deposits in remote northwestern Queensland have been the site of the discovery of many extraordinary prehistoric Australian animals, such as giant, toothed platypuses and flesh-eating kangaroos. So we have become used to delightfully unexpected surprises in what turns up there," said co-author Mike Archer.
Pictures at link.
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Scientists discover giant sperm fossilized in bat guano... (Original Post)
TreasonousBastard
May 2014
OP
intaglio
(8,170 posts)1. You might describe this as crazy
Maybe even bat-sh*t insane
Xipe Totec
(43,892 posts)2. What are you doing with my junk?
Blue Owl
(50,547 posts)3. Michele Bachmann is now expecting
n/t