The Sex Life of C. Elegens

 

Most specimens of C. elegens are hermaphrodites and can produce both gametes associated with male (sperm) and female (eggs) sexes. But about 1% of the C. elegens specimen are male and produce only sperm gametes. And, like humans, males C. elegens seek to mate with their opposite sex. And when they do, the number of fertilized eggs increases from about 300 to about 1000.

Yes, the photograph is of copulating C. elegens with the smaller male on top and the larger hermaphrodite below. (The male C. elegens is attracted to the hermaphrodite C. elegens by communication with pheromone signaling which results in the intercourse.  The male is engaged in “scanning” behavior, in which it moves backwards while holding the ventral side of its body against the hermaphrodite, searching for the vulval opening.

 And there you have you have it. The only difference in the sex life and C. elegens is in the plumbing. In both case the females signal interest and the males go chasing after them.