# dolphins rape **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [January 17, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565 "2020-01-17T15:00:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565/1 "2020-01-17T15:00:40Z")
but how do dolphins identify females vs males? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565/2 "2020-01-17T17:34:00Z")
Without a link, this is just a disembodied post. What are you referring to? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565/3 "2020-01-17T18:25:58Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Without a link, this is just a disembodied post. What are you referring to? I believe the OP is referring to the fact that dolphins do not have external genitalia. A male dolphin’s penis is normally concealed inside their body and it only comes out when they’re about to have sex. So somebody seeing a dolphin would not be able to easily tell the difference between a male and a female. But I’m assuming other dolphins can spot the subtler differences. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565/4 "2020-01-17T20:16:02Z")
Lack of facial hair. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565/5 "2020-01-17T21:05:13Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Without a link, this is just a disembodied post. What are you referring to? Possibly a response to “_[Has a human ever been raped by a dolphin](https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3172/has-a-human-ever-been-raped-by-a-dolphin/)_” by the master. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2020, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565/6 "2020-01-17T21:35:46Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > . . . But I’m assuming other dolphins can spot the subtler differences. Sonar might help. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565/7 "2020-01-18T04:52:26Z")
[This is presumably the article this is in reference to.](https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3172/has-a-human-ever-been-raped-by-a-dolphin/) I suspect the OP might be asking how dolphins tell _human_ sexes apart. I suspect they don’t, at least not well, but pushy behaviour by male dolphins toward a female or AFAB handler is more likely to be noted (rightly or wrongly) as sexual than toward a male handler. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565/8 "2020-01-18T06:10:47Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > I suspect the OP might be asking how dolphins tell _human_ sexes apart. That does look like the case based on the context of the column you and Max S. have linked to. In my defense, I didn’t have a lot to work with when I made my previous speculation and I assumed the OP was asking about dolphin-on-dolphin rape. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565/9 "2020-01-20T12:15:46Z")
Why are you assuming a dolphin would only rape a female? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565/10 "2020-01-21T13:03:27Z")
Next, on Oprah! 😃 [**Everything you always wanted to know about dolphin sex—but were afraid to ask.**](https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/04/everything-you-always-wanted-know-about-dolphin-sex-were-afraid-ask) > [@](#): > > Whales and dolphins have surprisingly interesting sex lives, replete with various positions, elaborate vaginas, and a rare type of penis that’s always mostly erect. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565/11 "2020-01-21T22:18:37Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Why are you assuming a dolphin would only rape a female? The article in question mentions that most reports of male dolphins being sexually aggressive toward humans involve women. I still say that’s likely a matter of assumptions on the part of the reporters - if a dolphin gets pushy with a man, people will just assume he’s being aggressive in general unless Li’l Flipper is out, if he does with a woman, they’ll assume he has carnal intent regardless. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565/12 "2020-01-21T22:33:29Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > [,]if a dolphin gets pushy with a man, people will just assume he’s being aggressive in general unless Li’l Flipper is out[,] As cited in the post directly preceding yours, “[…]dolphins have […] a rare type of penis that’s always mostly erect.” ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565/13 "2020-01-21T22:49:08Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > As cited in the post directly preceding yours, “[…]dolphins have […] a rare type of penis that’s always mostly erect.” Erect, it might be, but it is also hidden inside when not in use. See pictures [here](http://understanddolphins.tripod.com/dolphinmaleversusfemale.html) (safe for work, as long as you don’t actually play the video at bottom). ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565/14 "2020-01-21T23:01:52Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > Erect, it might be, but it is also hidden inside when not in use. > > See pictures [here](http://understanddolphins.tripod.com/dolphinmaleversusfemale.html) (safe for work, as long as you don’t actually play the video at bottom). Oh, ok. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565/15 "2020-01-22T05:09:41Z")
In 2012-2013 the scuba diving community in the Cayman Islands had several reports of rather aggressive mounting behaviour of a lone male dolphin nicknamed Stinky. YouTube video of an incident show Stinky’s winky. For good measure I’m adhering to the two click rule: [Diver encounter with Stinky the Dolphin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlaZis3KQl8) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565/16 "2020-01-22T21:03:15Z")
[Like people, some animals are just jerks.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzRyEI00PXc) ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565/17 "2020-01-27T18:24:06Z")
Like everything else, there’s a subreddit for that. > **[r/AnimalsBeingJerks](https://www.reddit.com/r/AnimalsBeingJerks/)** > > r/AnimalsBeingJerks: A place for sharing videos, gifs, and images of animals being jerks. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dolphins-rape/846565/18 "2020-01-28T16:39:50Z")
There is also [a _King of the Hill_ for that](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=king+of+the+hill+dolphin+rape).