But those extra two heads aren’t there just to show off. During copulation, echidna penises operate on a part-time schedule: half the penis temporarily shuts down while the other two heads are responsible for fertilization. Or so it seems for the echidna, a spiny egg-laying mammal, which has evolved a four-headed penis. Here are eight penises that are as cool and surprising as the creatures that wield them: Heads Above the RestĮchidnas have a four-headed penis, though only two heads are put to use at a time. These blurred lines often give rise to nature's most fascinating sexual organs. “There's not a binary that is categorically one thing or the other when it comes to genitalia,” says Willingham. Many of the creatures packing the most surprising phalluses are hermaphrodites, meaning they also have female reproductive organs. Gender and sex rarely fit into tidy categories and animal penises are no different. Typically, a penis helps male animals reproduce sexually with a female-however, exceptions exist. One explanation for this research gap, says Willingham, is “because of who has been asking the questions until quite recently, and who's been deciding how those questions should be answered.” Penises have been a longstanding subject of scientific fascination, and they’re far more studied than vaginas. Phallacy plunges readers into the wild and wacky world of animal genitalia while exploring the social and cultural significance of penises as symbols of power and identity. Her book, Phallacy: Life Lessons from the Animal Penis, hit shelves in September. Just ask Emily Willingham, a biologist and journalist who’s been studying penises for over a decade. The more scientists learn about penises, the more they realize how varied sex organs are. Across vastly different species and ecosystems, unique environmental pressures have allowed creatures of many species to evolve an array of shapes and sizes-from the electric blue penis of the leopard slug to the blue whale’s ten-foot phallus. Yellowstone National Park May 23, 2023Ĭlick to read more about when Yellowstone staff intervene in a natural process and why.Birds have them, bees have them, even regular old fleas have them, but in the animal kingdom, no penis is exactly like the next. The suspect was a white male in his 40s or 50s who was wearing a blue shirt and black pants, the statement said.įor those asking why we didn't send the calf to a wildlife sanctuary. Park officials are investigating the bison calf incident. Park rules require visitors to keep at least 25 yards (23 meters) away from wildlife including bison, elk and deer, and at least 100 yards (91 meters) away from bears and wolves. Many of Yellowstone’s larger animals - including bison, which can run up to 35 mph (55 kilometers per hour) and weigh up to 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) - are deceptively dangerous, even when they’re just grazing or resting. Terrifying Attack: 9-year-old girl tossed violently by charging bison at Yellowstone National Park… #bisonattack /IF6W5A7h82 He was fined $235 and ordered to pay $500 to the Yellowstone Park Foundation Wildlife Protection Fund.īison have gored several people in Yellowstone in recent years, often after they got too close to the animals. Park officials euthanized a newborn bison after a similar incident in 2016, when a Canadian man and his son put the calf in their SUV, thinking they could rescue it. It’s the latest example of Yellowstone visitors getting in trouble or hurt after approaching bison.
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