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U.E.F.S. State Department Research Publication 323B

Sexual Morphology and Reproductive Behavior of Species 3

05/24/203 A.D.E.

(Note: This is a sub-report of Publication 323, A Complete Physiological, Social, Economic and Cultural Analysis of Species 3. This document has not been assigned a classification level; however, it is not intended for wide public release or dissemination, and should only be provided to members of related diplomatic missions or those with prior authorization from the director. Direct public requests for this and other sub-publications of 323 under open-records laws should be delayed for as long as possible, and redacted to remove this notification, and possibly other details that could threaten relations with Species 3.)

Introduction

This document pertains to the sexual morphology and reproductive behavior of the second species contacted diplomatically by the United Earth Federated States, as well as related information and diplomatic protocols. As the native name for this species is impossible to render in Standard English characters, for the purpose of designation it is herein referred to as Species 3, and may also be designated by its assigned but probably incorrect taxonomy, Felis Sentiensis. As mentioned in the general report, Species 3 is a generally humanoid species with features that bear a striking resemblance to Earth felines, including fur, flexible tails, and other morphological features. For further information on detailed aspects of physical morphology, please refer to RP 323A.

Sexual Morphology

Both male and female genitalia bear a slight outward resemblance to human genitalia, but with a number of important differences.

The female genitalia is similarly positioned to that of a human female, and bears some outward resemblance. The vulva is characterized by an area of furless exposed skin between the legs, a feature that is not readily visible when the female is standing due to a tuft of obscuring fur in front. The exposed flesh is cushioned and slightly raised, appearing similar to the mons pubis and/or labia majora, although here the distinction is less defined as the mons pubis is partially obscured by fur along the periphery of the exposed area. However, many of the complicated physical structures of the human female are not present, such as the clitoris and clitoral hood, skene's and bartholin's glands, complex outer skin folds, and other peripheral features. The urethral opening is not present within the labium, and is present instead slightly in front, near the periphery of the mons pubis. The vaginal opening is completely enclosed by what appear to be truncated labia minora, present as a pair of twinned, parallel vertical ridges that rise slightly above the mons pubis. These ridges are very flexible, and stretch to form an essentially circular opening during intercourse.

The interior genitalia are distinguished by a number of unique features. The vaginal canal is superficially similar, although the analogue to the cervix that provides uterine access is more vaguely defined, and is positioned in such a way as to be inaccessible during intercourse - instead, the male genitalia is directed towards the fornix, a sensitive area at the end of the vaginal canal that stretches to conform closely around the male, and is flexible enough to stretch outward several inches from its resting state, allowing it to accommodate the full range of male genitalia (and it is thought that this conforming behavior is crucial to certain aspects of the mating process, as defined below). While there is no focal point of stimulation such as the clitoris, areas of the vaginal walls as well as the labia minora have considerably more nerve connections than the human female, and such connections are present across the entire length of the vaginal canal. As in human females, the walls of the canal are generally pressed together during normal activity, in a manner similar to that of the labia; during estrus and subsequent intercourse, the vaginal walls stretch outward through intercourse to form a roughly cylindrical shape, and this shape, once established, is generally maintained until intercourse is complete, although the labia minora do return partially to their parallel shape between penetrations, which limits but does not prevent the leakage of fluids. The canal is also marked by a regularly occurring series of angled, fleshy rings, which protrude as ridges from the wall of the canal. These ridges are generally folded flat against the walls during normal activity as well as during the inward thrust of sexual penetration, but raise up to engage with the male genitalia during the outward stroke. The bulk of nerve connections are directed to these ridges, especially the nerves connected to other parts of the reproductive system, and the action of these ridges serves both to provide the impulse needed to induce the production of eggs from the ovaries, as well as the primary source of female sexual stimulation. The uterus has a larger volume than the human equivalent, and is capable of multiple implantantions. It is connected to the ovaries in a manner similar to the fallopian tubes. As will be elaborated later, as opposed to menstruation, eggs are brought to maturity shortly before the onset of estrus, and only released into the uterus when the female is directly stimulated during mating.

The male genitalia also bears some outward similarities to that of humans, including slightly increased lengths and roughly equivalent diameters, as well as a similarly pointed, slightly flared head. The penis itself is furless, but is partially contained in a sheath that covers approximately the bottom half-inch while erect, and the minority of the penis when flaccid. The sheath also contains the testicles, and the partial coverage means that the base of the penis is considered to be where it enters the sheath. The penis becomes erect in a similar fashion to the human penis, and its internals are generally functionally similar; however, there are slight differences in the vascular system that allows the penis to remain erect through several ejaculatory cycles.

Another important morphological difference is the presence of a number of backwardly-angled hooklike protrusions that ring the flared edge of the penile tip, as well as two additional rows beneath it near the top of the shaft. Approximately twenty hooks are present in each row, evenly distributed around the circumference of the penis. The hooks are composed of flesh stretched across what appears to be protrusions of flexible cartilage. Unlike feline penile protrusions, the hooks are rounded and generally soft to the touch, as well as highly flexible - they fold back almost parallel to the skin of the penis during sexual penetration, and become close to perpendicular when pulling out. These hooks engage with the ridges present in the female vaginal canal, providing the primary source of female sexual stimulation alongside inducing ovulation.

Reproductive Behavior

The reproductive behavior of Species 3 is markedly different from human reproduction. Instead of a monthly cycle of automatic ovulation followed by menstruation, Species 3 females experience a period of estrus, or "heat," approximately for times during their planetary year (although the precise timing of this varies from female to female, and there are usually a roughly equivalent proportion of females in heat at any given time throughout the year). Unlike human females, outside of estrus, females are not at all sexually receptive, and will violently resist attempts at sexual activity during this time, including the use of their claws to manually castrate males who attempt to mate when they are not receptive.

Both females and males achieve sexual maturity around the age of 15 to 16 of their planetary years, which would be roughly equivalent to 22-23 in Earth years. Mammary structures are apparent in females from birth, and the onset of sexual maturity does not provide for any drastic changes in appearance - rather, sexual maturity is defined as the onset of the first heat in women, and the first compulsion to mate with receptive females in men. Females continue to experience heat until around the planetary age of 35, and males continue to respond to heat until roughly the planetary age of 45.

The period of heat is somewhat variable, depending on the success of impregnation during this period - if a female is successfully mated early on in estrus, the heat can subside in as little as three to four days. However, if ovulation induction is unsuccessful, or if an induction-blocking contraceptive is used (as it often is to limit population growth in this species), the period of heat will often run for ten days, with the most intense activity occurring during the one to two days in the middle of the cycle, known as the "apex." During heat, the female emits a large amount of pheromones, indicating her general receptivity to males and serving to draw them into her proximity (although it appears that once in visual range, the males rely more on unmistakable body language to indicate current receptivity). The labia majora also swells outward slightly, the skin appearing flushed, and the labia minora also swell slightly and appear brightly pink due to increased blood flow. A set of specific pelvic muscles also contract slightly, causing the edges of the exposed skin to retract towards the sides and slightly spread the labia minora into a tightly vertical O shape, which allows for the male to easily find and engage with the opening during intercourse. The vaginal canal begins to develop copious pheromone-laced lubrication, some of which emerges and spreads across the pubic region, diffusing into the air and providing the main attractant for males in the area. The need for physical sustenance decreases during this period, although it increases rapidly if impregnation is achieved; however, the need for sleep increases, and women typical sleep for between 11-12 hours of the 26-hour planetary cycle, while during waking hours approximately 35% of time is spent mating on average over the course of the cycle. The physical preparations of estrus generally occur during the period of sleep before the first day of the cycle, so that a female will awaken fully prepared for the immediate mating that estrus appears to require upon waking.

Within this period, females are highly sexually receptive, and will generally respond to the advances of any sexually mature males in the area unless they have been recently mated. During most of the heat, females go through a rapid cycle of arousal. Once they become aroused, they will strongly encourage mating, and once a male is placed in physical contact with a female in heat, mating appears to be virtually inevitable - even if a male appears reluctant a female will stay in close proximity, and biological drives appear to take over within minutes. Females will also sometimes "present" themselves in a traditional mating position, the appearance of the position itself apparently encouraging instinctual mounting and mating by males. After a period of mating, which can contain between one and several sequential matings, the female's heat is usually temporarily sated, and she will refuse further advances for a period of time and appear to generally return to normal functioning - however, her state and pheromones will continue to attract male attention, and even if a female in heat is not immediately receptive, males will sometimes remain in proximity to them until they are once again ready. Within a short period of time, usually between 15 and 60 minutes, the condition of heat will resume, and additional mating will be desired; continual presence and exterior stimulation by nearby males can reduce this latency period. During the apex of estrus, female sensitivity and desire are significantly increased, accompanied by increased muscle tension around the vaginal canal and an increased flow of lubricating secretions. Within this period, ovulation is induced most successfully, and the latency period diminishes significantly, often to the point where mating can be performed continuously as long as there is a sufficient number of males in the vicinity prepared for mating. In circumstances where a large number of males are present compared to each female in heat and providing continual stimulation, the apex can occur as soon as the fourth day of heat and can rarely be extended to three or four days, during which the female will sleep between 14-15 hours, and usually end her heat within a day or two of the conclusion of the apex. A female will usually be mated between 12 and 50 times during a normal day of heat, an amount that can climb into the hundreds if the right conditions exist during the apex.

The actual act of intercourse, or mating, occurs somewhat differently to human mating. While the genital location on the female should allow for a variety of positions, almost all mating occurs from variations on the rear-entry position, including a particular variant of the traditional all-fours position that appears to be instinctually tied to mating. During mating, the male usually grips the female firmly on the buttocks, hips, or sides - at this point, mating appears to be inevitable. Hands are not used to guide the penis into the vagina - rather, the female appears to position her hips in a way that the male's natural forward motion causes the penis to engage with the labia minora, which then expand around the penis and naturally guide it into the vaginal opening.

The actual mating consists of three phases. The first phase consists of the initial penetration, which is performed quickly, and continued until the entire exposed area of the penis is within the vaginal canal, apparently in an effort to engage the fornix as much as possible. This is then followed by a period of repose, where the male remains generally motionless inside the female for an extended period of time, occasionally employing a "grinding" motion - it is thought that this period, which allows the female to clearly feel the presence of her partner inside her, is crucial in informing the female body that it is being mated, and in creating the temporary latency from heat once the mating is complete. The third phase is a continuous outward stroke as the male pulls out of the female completely during a period between two to twenty seconds, the hooks engaging with the internal ridges of the female and produce a tugging or stroking sensation as they move over them, inducing ovulation if possible and providing the primary sexual stimulation for the female. This stimulation is cumulative during the mating, and subsequent backstrokes will often trigger an abbreviated orgasmic sensation in the female, the hooks' final tug on the labia minora triggering a climax with maximized muscle tension immediately followed by a series of two to three contractions that run the length of the vagina, which are visible externally as a contracting pulse momentarily pressing the labia together. Occasionally, a more intense orgasm can be observed after certain types of mating, becoming somewhat more prevalent during the apex. The backstroke and subsequent stimulation also appear to be involved in the manipulation of the heat cycle, as the orgasmic experience, if achieved, appears to extend the latency cycle further in some circumstances. Mating consists of between one and seven complete thrusts, with ejaculation occurring during the final thrust. Depending on age and stamina, each male can perform between one and four immediately sequential matings; however, after the series of matings occur, the male is unable to ejaculate further, and after a time becomes flaccid and requires a recovery period of at least one to two hours before again becoming available to mate. Males do not have a predetermined period of heat, and are generally available to mate at any time they are around a receptive female, unless they are asleep or within the aforementioned refractory period.

During most periods of heat, the majority of females are given contraceptives that block the neural pathways in the ovaries that would receive the signals of vaginal stimulation and induce ovulation. A small percentage of the population is given placebos and allowed to become pregnant, usually for a single period of heat every 3 to 4 planetary years (although contraception can be permanently applied due to medical necessity or if a female directly requests to be excluded from impregnation). Upon impregnation, the remaining duration of heat is usually reduced as the body transitions to its new task. Gestation occurs for approximately five months, after which the mother gives birth to a litter usually consisting of 6-12 young. During childbirth, the flexible vaginal canal expands greatly, and the muscular contractions during birth are reported to be significantly less painful than in human birth, which seems unusual given the very sensitive nature of the canal, and for which a sufficient explanation has not been given; in fact, contrary to expectation, some orgasms have been reported during childbirth due to pressure against the sensitive structures in the vaginal canal. The children stay with the mother at a birthing center for approximately six months until they are fully weaned (and during which time estrus is also suppressed), at which point they are cared for in dormitories with other children in the community, with all adults taking turns caring for them, and where they will remain until sexual maturity and the subsequent graduation into a program to provide them with professional or collegiate skills.

Summary of Societal Implications

As can be noted by the disjunctive states of male and female abilities to mate, it is infeasible for a monogamous pairing to be exclusive during a period of heat, due to the inability of a single male to provide the level of mating necessary for his partner. As a result, the society has evolved around the concept of heat, and as a result there are no societal or moral restrictions against having multiple sexual partners. This also means that during estrus, all females will have a considerably large number of partners. This proclivity raises several possible issues with the population. Luckily, due to strong immune systems and an apparent lack of STIs, this promiscuity has not yet been a vector for disease, but there is concern that were a severe STI to develop, it would have the potential to fully infect the entire worldwide population within one calendar month. The promiscuity also led to overpopulation in the species' earlier years, which was eventually combated by the enforced regime of contraceptives given to the majority of females during estrus; several permutations were attempted before a contraceptive was created that prevented ovulation but did not affect estrus per se, as the process of estrus was necessary to maintain social stability. Finally, in a modern, monetary-based society, this method of mating made proper determination of paternity close to impossible. To resolve this issue, an essentially socialist regime was created whereby all children were parented and provided for equally by the society at large, with acquisition of wealth beginning once the individuals became independent following their education and sexual maturity, used during their life, and recouped to further pay for the socialist regime upon their death, as there is no official inheritance. While this level of socialism may seem to be anathema to our own politics, it appears to have allowed for the smooth functioning of their society in spite of their unusual sexual and family arrangements.

Related Cautions to Diplomats

While the Species 3 mating protocol and genitalia should theoretically be compatible with humans, it is not advised at this point to engage in intercourse with any Species 3 individuals. The human style of intercourse is significantly different from Species 3, and may produce unforeseen results. Due to the heavy use of pheromones in the Species 3 mating procedures, it is unlikely that any individuals will demonstrate sexual interest outside of direct physical provocation; however, in the case of a human male encountering a female in heat in the absence of native males, it is unclear whether the female would attempt mating regardless, and it is also unclear how the female would respond to the presence of the human penis or the repetitive motion of the human mating procedure. As there is clear evidence of Species 3 females performing violent castrations when provoked by a male, it is strongly advised for males to refrain from all sexual contact, or situations that could become sexual, and should refrain from any physical contact whatsoever with a female that appears to be in heat.

Women should also use reasonable caution, as even though males are primarily attracted and readied by pheromones that human women do not possess, if they are particularly aroused they could confuse some types of particular behaviors or postures; and unlike human males, they may be instinctually commanded to perform mating in some situations in a way that is beyond their conscious control. Given the configuration of the Species 3 penis and the theoretical potential for internal damage in human females not sufficiently aroused, sexual contact is again discouraged. Furthermore, women should not assume any posture which directly presents their posterior (specifically, any posture similar to a rear-entry sexual position), whether clothed or unclothed. Also, while visiting the planet of Species 3, women should refrain from wearing swimwear or workout wear (including cycling and compression shorts) in public, as these are similar to items of clothing worn by Species 3 females during heat and could be confusing. However, all other attire is fine, including looser shorts, long pants of any type, most casual clothing, skirt and pantsuits, and most other options.

While it is true that there are some ongoing experiments and research into whether sexual encounters between humans and Species 3 individuals could be feasible under certain conditions, for the sake of your own health and safety as well as stable diplomatic relations, you should not engage in sex with any Species 3 individuals at any time, for any reason.