# Is there any mammal species in which the males breastfeed the young? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [July 12, 2006, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-mammal-species-in-which-the-males-breastfeed-the-young/364207 "2006-07-12T18:01:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![majikfaere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@majikfaere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/majikfaere)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-mammal-species-in-which-the-males-breastfeed-the-young/364207/1 "2006-07-12T18:01:11Z")
Sorry Cecil, There is indeed at least one mammalian species in which the male lactates and breastfeeds - it’s a kind of Malaysian fruit bat. And it is entirely possible for males of the species Homo Sapiens to lactate, with extensive nipple stimulation (and hormone therapy helps), women who never had a baby, and even Men can breastfeed. [Is there any mammal species in which the males breastfeed the young?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_321.html) ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2006, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-mammal-species-in-which-the-males-breastfeed-the-young/364207/2 "2006-07-12T19:37:21Z")
Dayak (or Dyak) (_Dyacopterus spadiceus_). However, it is not certain whether the males actually breastfeed. They do not produce much milk, and it may just be a result of plant estrogens in their diet. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-mammal-species-in-which-the-males-breastfeed-the-young/364207/3 "2006-07-13T00:10:57Z")
> [@majikfaere](#): > > Sorry Cecil, > There is indeed at least one mammalian species in which the male lactates and breastfeeds - it’s a kind of Malaysian fruit bat. > And it is entirely possible for males of the species Homo Sapiens to lactate, with extensive nipple stimulation (and hormone therapy helps), women who never had a baby, and even Men can breastfeed. > > [Is there any mammal species in which the males breastfeed the young?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_321.html) Cite? ---
**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:** [July 13, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-mammal-species-in-which-the-males-breastfeed-the-young/364207/4 "2006-07-13T04:24:43Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > Cite? [The Incredible Milk-Producing Male Bat](http://www.batcon.org/batsmag/v13n1-7.html) While males do lactate, as **JWK** says there is no definite evidence that they actually suckle young. Since this was discovered some 10 years after Cecil wrote his article, he can hardly be faulted for not having mentioned it. And while male humans can lactate under exceptional circumstances, this can’t really be considered a case where a male of a mammalian _species_ suckles its young. ---
**Author:** ![majikfaere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@majikfaere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/majikfaere)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-mammal-species-in-which-the-males-breastfeed-the-young/364207/5 "2006-07-13T09:24:50Z")
True, colibri, but I have met a couple (at a hippie festival in north california) in which the father had gone through the lactation process I mentioned and was indeed nursing their 3 mo baby (admittedly not much, but still, I wish I could get my hubby to do it!)