Quick Q&A: Is there an animal with a penis on its head?
Just asking for a friend…
Asked by: Jason Goodyer, Bristol
Yes. The males of the Phallostethidae family of fish, which live in rivers in Southeast Asia, have a sex organ positioned under their chin, just behind their mouth. It consists of a rod for injecting sperm and a separate serrated hook for holding on to the female’s head, which guarantees no sperm gets lost in the strong river currents.
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Authors
Luis trained as a zoologist, but now works as a science and technology educator. In his spare time he builds 3D-printed robots, in the hope that he will be spared when the revolution inevitably comes.
