Scientists have uncovered the origins of sex when examining the ancient fish fossils

The Australian team of scientists stated that they had found the origin of sex, or rather the sexual intercourse. Their results are published in the journal Nature, on Sunday, October 19th, 2014.

The origins of sex was found after scientists examined the fossil of Microbrachius dicki, a true primitive bony fish that has a length of 8 cm which were living in the Scotland ancient lake 385 million years ago.

The first animals to use this form of reproduction were the first jawed fish called Microbrachius. (Picture from: http://bbc.in/1yWVlls)

"We have found the starting point when the evolution of internal fertilization in the animal begins. This is a big step," said John Long, a scientist of Flinders University, Australia, who led the study.

Long and his team observed the M. dicki fossils. They found the L-shaped organ. In the further investigation then revealed that it was a genital organ. "The males have some sort of large bone clamp. It is a tool used to transfer sperm to the female," Long said as quoted by the BBC on Sunday.

Scientists researched fossils to show how the fish had intercourse. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1x7cch0)

Meanwhile, the female have small bone structure at the rear, which can lock the male organ. Scientists think, with a model of the genital organs, the fish may have sexual intercourse with a sideways position.

To be stable in their sexual intercourse position, M dicki assisted by their fins that have functioning resembling the arms. The organs were functioning like Velcro, that helping males position themselves, then its genital organ transferring the sperms.

While the M. dicki antecedents fish reproduce by external fertilization. Males and females to spread their eggs and sperms into the water. The fertilization takes place outside their body.

M. dicki dating back 385 million years ago and are believed to be the first species of internal fertilization. But Long did not elaborate on what prompted this species to do so.

Surprisingly, many of today's fish reproduce by external fertilization, not sexual intercourse. According to Long, the sexual intercourse of fish did not last long. There are the back evolution so the current fish back spreading the sperms and eggs into the water. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BBC]
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