Penises of the Animal Kingdom
Penises of the Animal Kingdom features anatomically accurate representations of
the male copulatory organs of several animals, including man. Each illustration
was rendered with close attention to proportion and scale, the overall size determined
by the average physical dimensions of the genitalia of adult males.
With the exception of man, the entire organ is depicted, from tip to base. In
other words, each figure includes any segment of the penis contained within the
body of the animal: the internal portion is a significant fraction of the entire
length of most animal penises. All organs are pictured erect at 20 percent of
actual size.
Each penis has certain outstanding features. The human organ possesses
a well defined glans, or tip. This mushroom shaped end is one of the most evolved
glandes of the animal kingdom.
The dog penis has a bulbous enlargement that is present only during erection.
This bulb is the reason dogs "get stuck" while copulating. The female
contracts her vagina around the trapped penis to extract seminal fluids.
Hyenas are well known for the similarity of the male and female genital
organs. A female's erect clitoris is nearly impossible to distinguish from a male's
penis. Covering the glans of each organ are sharp, backwardly directed spines.
The penises of the ram, giraffe and goat have extensions of the urethra.
The urethras of the giraffe and ram can extend up to four centimeters beyond the
glans of the penis, forming a pliant hook.
The porpoise has a remarkable penis. The longer branch of its forked end
is actually jointed, allowing the tip to rotate or swivel. The animal has voluntary
control over this action and uses the finger-like appendage to manipulate and
investigate objects in its environment.
Perhaps the oddest penis is that of the pig. During erection, the end of
the penis convolutes into a corkscrew bearing an uncanny resemblance to the animal's
coiled tail. The helical end of the erect organ conforms to the twisted contours
of the female's vagina.
The horse penis is similar to that of the human; it also has a well defined
glans. A dissimilar feature is a slight extension of the urethra.
The bull penis has an interesting history. Because of its rope-like consistency
and proportions, it was used in the Middle Ages as a flogging stick. Today in
some parts of the world it is dried and used as a walking cane.
The elephant has a very muscular penis. Half of the curved organ forms
the pendulous portion, yet only the very end penetrates the hard-to-reach vulva
of the female during copulation.
Whales have the largest penises of all animals. A blue whale penis can
measure thirteen feet in length and one foot in diameter. The poster pictures
the sperm whale penis with a length of over seven feet.