mating bite

plural mating bites

1. biologyA bite performed during copulation in certain species.

   Females bearing mating bites are seen from early May to early August, with the majority seen in May.

   2017, Jose I. Castro, The Sharks of North America, page 436

   2 more examples

   Differences in courtship behavior among higher taxa include use of the spurs by male pythons and boas, mating bites by some colubrids, […]

   1997, Harry W. Greene, Snakes: The Evolution of Mystery in Nature, page 127

   Most of the wounds inflicted by these mating bites heal fairly quickly, but sometimes they can be quite severe.

   2004, Mark Carwardine, Shark, page 63

   Synonyms: claiming bite, claiming mark, mating mark

2. fictionIn speculative erotica, a bite given by one person to another to form a permanent bond, typically leaving a scar or mark.

   He sucked a hickey along the side of Ash's throat, right where his mating bite would soon go.

   2021, Marcy Jacks, Mating for Convenience, page 36

   2 more examples

   “When the mating bites are exchanged, the two souls link. Then the werewolf can live as long as his vampire mate.”

   2017, Cynthia Eden, Forbidden Bite, unnumbered page

   Once mated with another character, characters have the option of performing the “mating bite,” which irreversibly bonds the lovers to one another.

   2019, Tessa Barone, "Just Go Find Yourself a Nice Alpha: Gender and Consent in Supernatural Fandom's Alpha/Beta/Omega Universe", thesis submitted to Oregon State University, page 10