WE SAW THEM OPEN FOR THE RAMONES
Terrifying sex organs of male turtles
(Thanks to W. von Papineau)
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June 17, 2012
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That is the John W. Holmes of turtles.
Posted by: wingnut | June 17, 2012 at 03:42 PM
Educational quote: "Hydraulic intromittent male sexual organs – a variety of popular, alternative names are available – are not unique to mammals among tetrapods. They’re also present in squamates, archosaurs and turtles. This phylogenetic distribution has led some authors to conclude that these organs were present in amniote common ancestors. However, in their details, the organs of these groups are all quite different and actually formed from non-homologous tissues. As shown by Kelly (2002), male intromittent organs therefore arose independently among tetrapods on more than one occasion. The turtle penis, for example, contains only one vascular erectile body and develops on the ventral surface of the cloaca, whereas the mammal penis contains two erectile bodies and is derived from non-cloacal tissue. In the diagram above – from Kelly (2002) – the penises of turtles, birds, mammals and snakes are compared in transverse section. Note how different the organs are in their cross-sectional structure.
I gnu that. Really. ISIANMTU!
Posted by: O the Umanity | June 17, 2012 at 04:18 PM
That explains that female turtle a few days ago.
Posted by: Elon | June 17, 2012 at 04:27 PM
TMI.
Posted by: Loudmouth | June 17, 2012 at 04:30 PM
WAY TMI.
Posted by: MikeyVA. | June 17, 2012 at 05:10 PM
Not safe for the terrarium.
Posted by: Omniskeptic | June 17, 2012 at 05:19 PM
Kelly is well known for her previous work, widely reported in the media, on penis anatomy in armadillos (Kelly 1997) collected as roadkills near Tallahassee, Florida. Her publications can be obtained, free, from her homepage...
...and make a thoughtful gift for Father's Day.
Posted by: Betsy | June 17, 2012 at 05:28 PM
Way, Way TMI. And definitely too many pictures.
Posted by: Will (the other one) | June 17, 2012 at 05:59 PM
The Turtle
by Ogden Nash
The turtle lives 'twixt plated decks
Which practically conceal its sex.
I think it clever of the turtle
In such a fix to be so fertile.
Posted by: Ernie G | June 17, 2012 at 06:04 PM
What the shell's up with all these turtle stories?
Not TMI, but rather TMNT.
Posted by: PirateBoy | June 17, 2012 at 06:08 PM
Dave's new science lesson. Terrifying.
Posted by: Theresa | June 17, 2012 at 06:50 PM
I'm surprised they don't pass out when they get excited.
Posted by: Steve | June 18, 2012 at 09:28 AM
I may have seen Terrifying Sex Organs open for the Sex Pistols, but if so, I was so...let's say impaired...that I don't remember a thing. Ah, the good old days.
Posted by: Dmentd | June 18, 2012 at 11:18 PM