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is it true that male snakes have 2 penises2007-11-24 2:02:03

if so, which snakes and why do they need 2 (if female snakes have only one cloaca)?

Answers:

Male snakes have two penis (called hemipenes or 鈥渉alf penis鈥?in the mistaken belief that they were pressed together to form one penis). Lizards are similarly equipped. Some snakes alternate between the two for separate matings, some just use which ever is closest to the female. The hemipenes inflates when it is inserted into the female and some hemipenes may be forked or spined, probably to ensure it stays inside the female during what can be a long mating.

Some males prevent the female from mating with other males by prolonging mating (remaining connected for up to 6 hours). Other simply hang around for a few days, keeping other males off. Some plug her up with secretions. Some are even sneakier: Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) hibernate in large communal groups. In spring, the males emerge first and wait for the females to emerge. When a female sleepily stumbles out, tons of males form frenzied mating balls around her. Some males produce female pheromones which confuse other males and give them a chance to fertilise the real female. Once a male gets to her, the others scatter because he releases a pheromone than causes temporary impotence in other males.

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hmm.. i guess they r truly lucky.. hehehe..

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U're not planning to get a male snake and use him as a double headed dildo are u?

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No they only have one penis.

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not they have 4 penises

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Saket K is 100% correct, so I'm not going to waste time duplicating what he said so very well :-)

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Saket K got it right. (even though it was copied from another site withiout citing it. whatever). All snake species and most lizard species have hemipenes. Not quite sure why, I had heard that it might be so males can mate continuously without having to worry as much about keeping up with sperm production.

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don't know. but iguanas do.