The Jack-In-A-Box of reptilian genitalia.
The alligator penis is a unique anatomical feature, permanently erect but only emerging when necessary. Unlike other animals that rely on blood or lymphatic fluid for erection, the alligator penis maintains its rigidity due to a dense network of collagen fibers within the penile shaft. This constant state of readiness means that instead of becoming erect in response to sexual arousal, it remains rigid and simply pops out for copulation before retracting out of sight.
Alligator Penis In Action
The discovery of the alligator penis’s unique function was a startling experience for researchers. A video, which is not advisable to view in a professional setting, shows Brandon Moore from Louisiana Tech University dissecting a freshly deceased male alligator. As his scalpel contacts the pelvis nerve, the alligator penis is suddenly released, reminiscent of a Jack-In-The-Box.
Diane Kelly from the University of Massachusetts took on the challenge of understanding this phenomenon. Kelly, who has extensively studied the anatomy of various animal penises, published her findings after working with specimens at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana.
Alligator Penis Dissections
Kelly’s research revealed that the alligator penis does not inflate like those of mammals, birds, and other reptiles. Instead, its permanent erection is due to the dense collagen layers, a primary structural protein in connective tissues.
For those unfamiliar with the appearance of an alligator penis, it’s understandable. These reptiles do not display their genitalia externally. The 10-centimeter (3.9-inch), ghostly-white appendage is hidden behind a cloaca, an all-in-one orifice named after the Latin word for “sewer.” The cloaca serves as the exit for urine, feces, and reproductive materials, including the alligator penis.
How Does The Alligator Penis Work?
Kelly found that the alligator penis lacks musculature and is a rigid structure resting on the levator cloacae muscle without being attached to it. By manipulating this muscle in deceased specimens, Kelly could recreate the explosive emergence of the penis seen in Moore’s video.
This indicates that the levator cloacae muscle is responsible for propelling the permanently erect penis outward by squeezing the cloaca. Once the muscle relaxes, ligaments retract the penis back inside.
So there you have it—a peculiar, yet fascinating aspect of alligator biology that you now know.
Leave a Reply