A team led by the University of Adelaide in Australia provided the first anatomical description of the clitoris of the female snakein a pioneering study of its kind.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/eluniverso/OS5DQUSIFVEOTMEGNCI5XOJNLI.png)
“Throughout the animal kingdom, female genitalia are overlooked compared to male genitalia,” says Megan Folwell, a PhD candidate in the University of Adelaide’s School of Biological Sciences, who led the research, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. “Our study refutes the longstanding assumption that the clitoris (hemiclitores) is absent or non-functional in snakes.”.
The researchers examined the female genitalia of adult snake specimens from nine species, compared to the genitalia of adult and juvenile male snakes, details Europe Press.
“We are proud to contribute to this research, especially since, unfortunately, female genitalia of all species remain tabooFolwell stated.
“We found that the heart-shaped hemiclitoris of snakes is composed of nerves and red blood cells that resemble erectile tissue, suggesting that it can become swollen and stimulated during mating,” said Associate Professor Kate Sanders, from the Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide. “This is important because snake mating is often thought to involve coercion from the female, not seduction.”
“Through our research we have developed proper anatomical descriptions and labels of the female genitalia of snakes. We can apply our findings to better understand the systematics, reproductive evolution, and ecology of snake-like reptiles such as lizards.Sanders added.
The associate professor added that the research would not have been possible without Folwell’s new perspective on the evolution of the genitalia.This discovery shows that science needs thinkers with diverse ideas to advance“, he claimed.
They announce discovery of the origin of sex through the study of prehistoric fish
Pets also tend to get sexually transmitted diseases
Among the snakes studied are the Acanthophis antarcticus (also known as the death adder), the Pseudechis colleti, the Pseudechis weigeli and the Pseudonaja ingrami (native to different parts of Australia), the Agkistrodon bilineatus (native from Mexico and Central America to Honduras ), Bitis arietans (native to semi-arid regions of Africa and Arabia), Helicops polylepis (from Madre Selva Biological Station, Peru), Lampropeltis abnormal (from Los Brisas del Mogotón, Nicaragua), and Morelia spilota (native to Australia, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, and the northern Solomon Islands). (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
