Everything about Pseudo-penis totally explained
A
pseudo-penis is a term used of any structure found on an animal that while superficially appearing to be a
penis, is derived from a different developmental path.
Mammals
In mammals, all intact developmentally typical males have a penis, but the
clitoris in the females of the following species is sufficiently enlarged that it's usually termed a pseudo-penis:
spotted hyena,
squirrel monkey,
lemur, and
binturong. The
labia of the
spider monkey are elongated and may be similarly confused during display.
Elongated labia are also observed in humans.
The mammalian pseudo-penis appears to be simply for display, although the hyena is an exception: erection of the penis (which is voluntary in both sexes) is certainly a display of submission in both male and female spotted hyena, but the female hyena additionally uses her pseudo-penis for urination, copulation, and childbirth.
In addition, this makes it difficult for males to mate without the full cooperation of females, which helps the female dominated society of spotted hyenas to eliminate forced sex.
Birds
A notable example of a bird with a pseudo-penis is the
Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, which can still mate even if its pseudo-penis is disabled.
Only 3% of bird species have a
phallus: the common urogenital arrangement for both males and females is the
cloaca, through which all elimination and reproduction (via juxtaposed cloacas) occurs, but certain bird species, particularly
ratites,
screamers,
waterfowl, and
cracids (a family of aboreal
galliformes) exhibit a
phallus in the male, a structure derived from the internal cloacal wall which is generally associated with
sperm competition. Popularised species include the
Ruddy duck, and the particularly gifted
Argentine lake duck.
Further Information
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