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Lordosis behavior seen in different mammals. Clockwise from top left: cats, hamsters, elephants, and eastern gray squirrels.
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Lordosis behavior (/lɔːrˈdoʊsɪs/[1]), also known as mammalian lordosis (Greek lordōsis, from lordos "bent backward"[1]) or presenting, is the naturally occurring body posture for sexual receptivity to copulation present in females of most mammals including rodents, elephants, cats, and humans. The primary characteristics of the behavior are a lowering of the forelimbs but with the rear limbs extended and hips raised, ventral arching of the spine and a raising, or sideward displacement, of the tail. During lordosis, the spine curves dorsoventrally so that its apex points towards the abdomen.
- ^ a b "lordosis". The American Heritage Dictionary. Archived from the original on January 4, 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2017.