why snakes he has two penises Although it arouses curiosity, it actually has a complex answer.

Moreover, scientifically speaking, this double penis also has a name: Hemipen.

Not only snakes but also lizards are known to have double penises.

Animals mate to reproduce, just like humans. Something different than what we are used to hemipene because they experienced evolutionary adaptation It may sound very surprising. So what is this hemipene?

Squamates, like snakes and lizards, have double penises, unlike other reptiles and mammals. This double organhemipene“. In addition, each of them is connected to a testicle.

The sperm coming from the right testicle is ejected through the right hemipene, and the sperm coming from the left testicle is ejected through the left hemipene.

Hemipenes, normally at the base of the snake’s tailIt is stored upside down in the body. Although it looks quite strange, this structure actually offers advantages during mating. Although snakes only mate once, the alternating use of double penises allows a male snake to transfer more sperm in the same period.

The sperm that male snakes use during mating usually runs out immediately. However, by using the other hemipene, the female gets a verse sperm can be transmitted, making it easier for them to reproduce through repeated mating.

Was one penis not enough?

There is an evolutionary reason why snakes, unlike other animals, have double penises. In fact, this situation is also very effective for the continuity of the snake generation. Some female snakes receive an inheritance from males with whom they have mated for several years. They can even become pregnant from sperm.

One of the reasons for this adaptation is, of course, that snakes and lizards can only mate during certain periods. Most snakes only mate during the spring and autumn periods before going into hibernation. During this limited period, male snakes their penises Using them alternately increases sperm competition and provides more reproductive options.

Snakes and lizards often mate with more than one male.

In this way, female snakes produce eggs that are fertilized with sperm from more males. This increases the genetic diversity of their offspring and increases their chances of survival. Genetic diversity, especially those that support the immune system MHC It is critical in genetic regions such as (Major Histocompatibility Complex).

The fact that snakes have double penises is not only a result of an evolutionary adaptation, but also a result of their reproductive strategies. These organs are more common in men. to mate with the female It allows women to achieve genetic diversity.

Alternating use of hemipenes, genetic material of snakes While it allows them to disperse more effectively, female snakes can also decide which sperm to use.

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