The presence and functioning of the clitoris in humans have long been ignored and knowledge of this organ of pleasure remains fragmented. It is therefore obvious that little is known about the anatomy of the clitoris and its role in other animal species, such as bottlenose dolphins.
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In some species such as humans and bonobos, the sexual act is known to be practiced not only for reproductive purposes but also to provide pleasure to partners. Dolphins also perform sexual acts throughout the year, as opposed to species that only perform them during the breeding season, and this behavior has been interpreted to create as well as reinforce social connections. However, the establishment and maintenance of such links through the sexual act requires that there is an organ of pleasure in dolphins.
The establishment and maintenance of such bonds through the sexual act requires that there is a pleasure organ in dolphins.
In female dolphins, the presence of a clitoris has already been highlighted at the entrance to the vagina, a location where the stimulation by a penis can generate pleasure. At the bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus, observers have also reported behaviors between females likely to provide pleasure to one of them and thus strengthen social ties. These behaviors involve, for example, stimulation of the clitoris of an individual through rostrum or fins. If it is not possible to verify that stimulation of the clitoris provides pleasure in female dolphins, theanatomy of this organ can provide clues as to its function.
A pleasure organ… in several species
An article published in the newspaper Current Biology reports results obtained following the analysis of the clitoris of eleven female dolphins, who died of natural causes. The organs were removed and examined in particular using microtomography at X-rays as well as tohistology. X-ray microtomography images show the presence of a large area of erectile tissue that is similar in shape in young and adult individuals. Some of the shape of this tissue is similar to that seen in humans, and its curvature suggests that it can be stretched.
There are also more erectile spaces in sexually mature individuals compared to juveniles, which allows the authors to assume that the clitoris does have a role in individuals who practice a sexual act. The histological sections also revealed the presence of many nerve ends and the authors therefore believe that the thin skin of the clitoris is very sensitive. Thanks to these various elements of analysis, the authors explain that this organ is complex and has similarities with the clitoris of other species, including humans, and that it is probably a source of pleasure during couplings between males and females but also during intercourse homosexuals and of masturbatory behaviors. Thanks to the study of non-model organisms, researchers are able to determine the functioning of the clitoris in groups that are phylogenetically distant from each other and to try to understand what is the role of orgasm in females.
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