Imagine being chased by a portable male sex organ that has a mind of its own or having to wait three days for your lover to get undressed. Think of the kinkiest and chances are it is already been practised and perfected in the sea.“As humans, we think we’re so promiscuous but compared to sea creatures we’re just so boring,” says Australian aquatic scientist Sheree Marris, author of the newly published book, ‘KamaSEAtra Secrets of Sex in the Sea’. The book is a comical exposé on the raunchy sex lives of creatures beneath the sea.
“Sex sells, people love secrets and there are so many wonderful parallels that we share with marine animals when it comes to sex, love and relationships. They flirt just like us, dress up to impress their loves, serenade. The works get weirder and a whole lot kinkier,” says the Victoria-born Marris.
Having spent five years researching the book, drawing on her own work and talking to international experts and scouring scientific journals, Marris’ interest in marine sex began when she first discovered the meaning of the term ‘dork’. “It’s a whale penis. When we call someone a dork we’re calling them a big dick.”
Dolphins, according to her, believe in casual and recreational sex. The male anemone fish has both male and female sex organs and the cuttlefish can change its appearance to sneak past another male and have sex behind its rival’s back.
The book also looks at parenthood in the marine world. Marris cites the example of male seahorses that receive eggs from the female. They incubate them and give birth to the young.
Finding a date, however, is tough under the sea. Marine animals often fight for love. Flatworms engage in penis fencing fights each trying to stab their combatant to death.
The only thing is that people don’t believe this is me and are asking me, “Where is your elder sister Divya?” she laughs. Well, a compliment like that can do great things to women!
