# Any species that reproduces through sex but doesn't have sex for pleasure, too? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 16, 2005, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083 "2005-01-16T21:31:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/1 "2005-01-16T21:31:42Z")
Is there any species that reproduces through sex but doesn’t have sex for pleasure, too? ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/2 "2005-01-16T21:33:05Z")
A tree? ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@Stan\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/3 "2005-01-16T21:37:08Z")
The list of species that have sex for “pleasure” is pretty short compared to the ones that do it solely for reproduction. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/4 "2005-01-16T21:40:41Z")
How would you get non-human critters to have sex in the first place if they weren’t experiencing some physical pleasure from it (at least the male/stronger half of the couple, at any rate)? It’s not as though you can sit them down and explain to them how it’s their duty to the Party, or the species, or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/5 "2005-01-16T21:41:32Z")
What other motivation does **any** animal have for sex, other than pleasure? How do you know they associate it with reproduction? When do you know it’s just instinct? ---
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/6 "2005-01-16T21:43:39Z")
> [@ticker](#): > > A tree? Do trees have sex? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/7 "2005-01-16T21:43:43Z")
> [@Stan Doubt](#): > > The list of species that have sex for “pleasure” is pretty short compared to the ones that do it solely for reproduction. I agree, although then you have to ask someone to define “pleasure”. But a most animals are obeying a more primitive and involuntary drive than just pleasure-seeking. If you’ve ever seen cats reproduce you’ve got to wonder if there’s any pleasure involved there at all. In most mammals the reproductive act is pretty brief, just whatever is biologically necessary. I have read (no cite) that bonobos seem to display pleasure-seeking behavior in sex. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/8 "2005-01-16T21:47:22Z")
> [@Kel Varnsen - Latex Division](#): > > Do trees have sex? Yes, but it’s more for ent-ertainment than pleasure. ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/9 "2005-01-16T21:49:27Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > If you’ve ever seen cats reproduce you’ve got to wonder if there’s any pleasure involved there at all. In fairness, I’m quite certain that cats feel the same way about us. “Good lord, she’s screaming again. Should we go help her?!” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/10 "2005-01-16T21:51:10Z")
> [@Futile Gesture](#): > > What other motivation does **any** animal have for sex, other than pleasure? How do you know they associate it with reproduction? When do you know it’s just instinct? From what I understand of feline sex (at least among domestic cats), it’s a very painful process for the female. So unless all cats are into pain, there must be other motivating factors. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/11 "2005-01-16T21:55:14Z")
It’s pretty difficult to guess what the OP might actually be asking. However, 1. If the question is whether organisms have sex _purely_ “for pleasure,” that is, when they are not actually in reproductive condition (capable of producing offspring) then the answer is very very few. 2. If the question is what the “motivation” for sex is, then all organisms that are capable of feeling “pleasure” have sex only for pleasure (or at least to satisfy their instinctual drives), since they are not “aware” of any more complex motivations. But of course many organisms, such as trees, fungi, and microorganisms, can’t really be said to experience “pleasure” at all. It’s also worth pointing out that many species have sex only once and then die immediately after reproduction. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/12 "2005-01-16T21:58:24Z")
> [@Kel Varnsen - Latex Division](#): > > Do trees have sex? Yeah, but when they’re done, the male always leaves. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/13 "2005-01-16T22:06:00Z")
Roots, shoots, and _then_ leaves. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/14 "2005-01-16T22:07:24Z")
> [@Kel Varnsen - Latex Division](#): > > Do trees have sex? Maybe you should explain what you mean by “have sex,” and by “pleasure.” ---
**Author:** ![Ninja\_Pizza\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f04885/32.png) [@Ninja\_Pizza\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ninja_Pizza_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/15 "2005-01-17T00:41:07Z")
Mantises (mantis’? Mantii?) I’m pretty sure that the male doesn’t derive pleasure from it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/16 "2005-01-17T00:59:30Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. If the question is whether organisms have sex purely “for pleasure,” that is, when they are not actually in reproductive condition (capable of producing offspring) then the answer is very very few. Then again, some dogs and many rabbits (plus undoubtedly many other animals) have a tendancy to hump anything that moves. While the humping animal may be in reproductive condition, the knee or shoe they’re engaged with probably isn’t. I’m aware that humping in dogs also serves a social purpose in establishing the dominance order, which isn’t exactly for pleasure, but it’s not procreative, either. And if the male mantis (I imagine the plural is mantes) doesn’t enjoy it, then why the heck does he do it? I’d suspect that, in so far as mantes can enjoy anything, they enjoy sex immensely. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/17 "2005-01-17T01:15:12Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And if the male mantis (I imagine the plural is mantes) doesn’t enjoy it, then why the heck does he do it? I’d suspect that, in so far as mantes can enjoy anything, they enjoy sex immensely. According to [this](http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f02/web1/mdoughty.html), the male usually survives. > [@](#): > > Although the praying mantis is known for its cannibalistic mating process in actuality it only occurs 5-31% of the time. Especially in laboratory conditions of bright lights and confinement, the female is more likely to eat the male as means of survival. “In nature, mating usually takes place under cover, so rather than leaning over the tank studying their every move, we left them alone and videotaped what happened. We were amazed at what we saw. Out of thirty matings, we didn’t record one instance of cannibalism, and instead we saw an elaborate courtship display, with both sexes performing a ritual dance, stroking each other with their antennae before finally mating. It really was a lovely display” Of course, it goes on to say: > [@](#): > > There is one species, however, the Mantis religiosa, in which it is necessary that the head be removed for the mating to take effect properly. (5) Sexual cannibalism occurs most often if the female is hungry. But eating the head does causes the body to ejaculate faster. Which is why it’s sooo important to take them out to dinner first. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/18 "2005-01-17T01:31:05Z")
Well, since most fruits and vegetables reproduce sexually (pollination, you know), I’d have to say that most of the sex that goes on all over the planet is _not_ the having fun kind of sex. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/19 "2005-01-17T02:28:20Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Then again, some dogs and many rabbits (plus undoubtedly many other animals) have a tendancy to hump anything that moves. While the humping animal may be in reproductive condition, the knee or shoe they’re engaged with probably isn’t. Quite true. For that matter, it doesn’t even have to move. Male ducks engage in necrophila (known in the scientific literature as “Davian behavior,” after the hermit in the well-known limerick), including homosexual necrophilia, which indicates that reproduction is certainly not the uppermost thing on their tiny ducky minds. ---
**Author:** ![Typically\_Sunday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Typically\_Sunday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typically_Sunday)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083/20 "2005-01-17T03:35:37Z")
I’m pretty sure that only humans, bonobos, and dolphins have sex for pleasure. I have no idea how necrophiliac ducks and leg-humping dogs fit in. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-species-that-reproduces-through-sex-but-doesnt-have-sex-for-pleasure-too/285083.md?page=2)