so today my site has had a veritible deluge (picture a horse peeing on a rock) of hits for retromingent, and I'm wondering, "who in the world has foisted this word on an unsuspecting public?" well.

I have seen quite a few raccoons, even saw one
"washing" food. But never micturating, either
antero- or retro-.
Another thing: all the retromingent animals I
know of are female. I think retromingent males
would find copulation
extremely difficult.

I had to edid, somebody made the screen go wide.

all the retromingent animals I
know of are female. I think retromingent males
would find copulation extremely difficult.

Aristotle wrote that male lions are retromingent and perhaps that is why the rumor persists to this day. But this photo of lion's mating would seem to corroborate your theory, wwh. Go to:

http://www.africanlions.co.uk/mating/thumbnails/pic/lm1.jpg

All male cats are retromingent if they wish to be. It's how they spray for marking territory. Given the number of kittens (of all cat species) in the world, I can't agree that it interferes with their ability to copulate!

I have it on good authority that this word appears in Simon Winchester's latest book, Krakatoa.

thank you! this week I've been awash in "smellfungus" looks. any ideas, ASp?

it all seems rather backassward to me.

didn't you mean bassackward?