For centuries, storytellers have used the animal kingdom as a mirror for human emotion. From Aesop’s fables to Disney’s animated classics, we have projected our hopes, fears, and desires onto creatures great and small. But for a long time, the romantic subplots involving animals were predictable: the loyal dog, the majestic horse, the wise old owl. The love stories were safe, domestic, and largely mammalian.

An exotic animal romance can tackle human issues without the baggage of identity politics.

: These hermaphroditic creatures engage in "penis fencing," where two worms try to stab each other with their bifurcated reproductive organs; the loser must take on the role of the mother and expend energy carrying the eggs. BBC Wildlife Magazine 3. Alternative Reproductive Methods Not all exotic animals require a partner to reproduce: Parthenogenesis ("Virgin Births") : Some species, such as the Komodo dragon

Here is a breakdown of some of the most fascinating reproductive strategies found in nature: The Extremes of Frequency and Duration