this post was submitted on 02 Mar 2026
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Science Memes

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[–] oyfrog@lemmy.world 37 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Hemipenes (and penis/intermittent organs) are really diverse in terms of size and shape. A lot of lizards and snakes have little nodules and barbs that vary from species to species. Not sure what the ornaments do, but it's interesting. Also interesting is that having two (i.e. one on each side) potentially means that there's a handedness in terms of the preferred side used for mating.

Other fun facts about penises and other intermittent organs: cats and other felids have barbed penises that force ovulation in the female. Tangentially related are the pseudo penises of female hyenas.

More fun facts: damselfly males have intermittent organs that are spoon shaped so they scrape out the sperm of rival males.

Respond 'cock facts' to learn more about penises and intermittent organs.

Respond 'stop' if you don't want to learn cool shit.

[–] Im_old@lemmy.world 30 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] oyfrog@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago

Thanks for joining penis and intermittent organ facts.

Did you know that the "tail" of the male coastal tailed frog is actually an extension of the cloaca effectively acting as an intermittent organ?

Reply 'more cock' for more facts about penises and intermittent organs.

[–] lasta@piefed.world 49 points 3 days ago (3 children)

I see your “snakes have two penises” and raise you “kangaroos have THREE vaginas”.

[–] Track_Shovel@slrpnk.net 27 points 3 days ago

Hi, is this still available?

[–] flora_explora@beehaw.org 2 points 2 days ago

Cool! And it mentions "Inside Nature’s Giants"!!

[–] qualia@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

Now I need to add a new nsfw "marsupial orgy" filter for when I'm watching pr0n (at work).

[–] KubrickFR@lemmy.world 12 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I love this twist on that: "Did you know that on average, snakes have one penis. Now think about it carefully"

Obligatory call out to Hank Green's "The Fix" and his amazing fact-based intimidations: https://youtube.com/shorts/J8fmQ8E7rhE

Do they use both at the same time? For pissing? For intercourse? For the third thing? Does a snake have a favored penis? Are they corkscrew or some other unusual shape?

I never thought I'd have so many questions (read, more than 1) about snake penis.

[–] OwOarchist@pawb.social 14 points 2 days ago

Not just snakes, most reptiles.

Also common in other branches of the evolutionary tree as well, as in most sharks.

[–] Ghostie@lemmy.zip 11 points 2 days ago (2 children)
[–] pipes@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] Ghostie@lemmy.zip 7 points 2 days ago (3 children)

No. Why do snakes have 2 penises? Just in case one misses or something?

[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 16 points 2 days ago (1 children)

When you have two pensises, you don't ask why, you just shut up about it and enjoy having two pensises.

[–] Ghostie@lemmy.zip 4 points 2 days ago
[–] Jyek@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

It's actually a hemipenis. It's a single penis with two heads. Forked like their tongue. It's because they breed in piles and it doubles their odds of hitting a target

[–] Ghostie@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

It’s wild how I thought up the previous comment of mine as a joke only to find out I was kind of on the right track.

[–] T156@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Probably to make mating easier, since they can protrude out on either side, rather than the snake having to reposition, or end up poking straight down into the dirt.

But genital shapes can be pretty weird in general. Just look at humans. Instead of a simple tube, they have a squishy plug thing on one end. They don't even have a baculum to keep it straight, they just use hydraulic pressure.

Sssstrange thing not to have

[–] zqwzzle@lemmy.ca 11 points 3 days ago (1 children)
[–] mrsemi@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago

One dork, four knobs

[–] The_Che_Banana@beehaw.org 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

and here I was sitting on my duck corkscrew penis knowledge like I was a well educated soul....

[–] Track_Shovel@slrpnk.net 19 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] The_Che_Banana@beehaw.org 2 points 2 days ago

apparently, for me it's two penis day

Currently rereading steel beach and this little gem popped up 2 pages in tonight

[–] lessthanluigi@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

E621 and it's consequences, at least for me

[–] janewaydidnothingwrong@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I wanna ask what that is but I am also afraid to

[–] Jomega@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

Furry image board.

[–] lessthanluigi@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 2 days ago

The E number for monosodium glutamate (EU food chemical naming system)

[–] Medic8eme@piefed.ca 5 points 2 days ago (2 children)

All the wild rabbits around where we live have two as well. Happens apparently.

What part of 3mile island are you on?

[–] crank0271@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

...all? Have you checked each of them?

[–] elbucho@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago

Obligatory snake facts from The Fix:

https://youtube.com/shorts/J8fmQ8E7rhE

[–] Jello_o@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

thanks for the info, ill definitely use it a lot

[–] billwashere@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

And so do sharks.