Sex appeal, the scandalous life of nature

Sex-appeal exhibiton, the scandalous life of nature

With its new major exhibition, Sex appeal, the scandalous life of nature, the Toulouse Museum has chosen to lift the veil on the biodiversity of life through the prism of sexuality. Indeed, isn’t sex the key element of evolution and therefore of biodiversity on this planet which is teeming with life? On the animal side, from the masturbation of primates to the oral sex of bats, from the courtship of the bird of paradise to the homosexuality of lions, the polygamy of chimpanzees, the hermaphroditism of snails and many other genres.

All tastes are in nature. Between tenderness, delicacy, glamour, but also sensuality, eroticism or bestiality, the sexual life of animals is much richer, abundant and flamboyant than it seems. The sexuality of flowers, for its part, is often discreet and sometimes even sacredly modest. The co-evolution of plants and their pollinators has given rise to astonishing connections which are not free from deception. Colorful and fragrant, plants provide us with a lush display that gives rise to unique relationships.