November 11, 2005 | Funny Bits

Fossils found fucking

Scientists in India have discovered two prehistoric creatures that have been fused together in mid-fuck for the last 65 million years, marking the first time that sexual copulation has been discovered in a fossil state.

But if you're picturing Dino the dinosaur getting lucky, you'll be disappointed. The fossils are of the teeny, tiny Myxomycetes fungi, also known as slime molds. The cells normally have flagella (whip-like appendages) which are lost once the the slimy creatures  fuse.  Scientists concluded the discovered slime molds were were doing the nasty because they were fused together and had dropped their flagella.

No, not quite as exciting as a couple of tyrannosaurus rex going at it, but a legitimate discovery in its own right.

• Scientists find fossils in sexual union [Washington Post]