Thursday, 2 December 2004
Duck penis
The Argentine lake duck is small, weighing a little more than a pound (640 grams) and extending about 16 inches (41 centimeters) long from head to tail. Its penis, at about 17 inches, is the longest of any bird known so far, said McCracken.
"Measurements that we had taken before were all from dissected birds, and we thought [the penis] was about 20 centimeters [8 inches]," he said. "But in April we were in Argentina collecting birds for another genetic study, and we found this bird running around in its natural form, with its penis hanging out, which was something we'd never seen before."
"Our best guess is that the birds use [the long penis] as a kind of lasso," McCracken said. "The males have to chase the females, and even during copulation the females are trying to escape."
Found on this website
"Measurements that we had taken before were all from dissected birds, and we thought [the penis] was about 20 centimeters [8 inches]," he said. "But in April we were in Argentina collecting birds for another genetic study, and we found this bird running around in its natural form, with its penis hanging out, which was something we'd never seen before."
"Our best guess is that the birds use [the long penis] as a kind of lasso," McCracken said. "The males have to chase the females, and even during copulation the females are trying to escape."
Found on this website
