CNN —Same-sex sexual behavior has been observed in more than 1,500 animal species, but a new study has found that it is massively underreported by researchers. Observations of this same-sex behavior in animals, such as sexual mounting and genital touching, date back to the 1700s and 1800s. In a study published Thursday in the journal PLOSOne, a team of researchers at the University of Toronto, Northwestern University and the University of Warsaw found that experts who study animal behavior are underreporting and rarely publishing their observations of same-sex sexual behavior. The study surveyed 65 experts and found that 77% of them observed same-sex sexual behaviors in the species they studied. Davis added that there have been other obstacles that get in the way of documenting same-sex behaviors among animals.

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Persons: –, ” Karyn Anderson, “, Anderson, cuddle, David Hecker, Josh Davis, it’s, ”, Davis Organizations: CNN, University of Toronto, Northwestern University, University of Warsaw, Bremerhaven Zoo, DDP, Getty Locations: Bremerhaven, Swedish, London, esculentus, Luisenpark, Germany