Thursday, February 07, 2008

Gender-Bending Barnacles Grow Huge Penises in Rough Waters



Barnacles can radically change the size and shape of their penises to fight the waves and have sex.

Here is the challenge for the tiny hard bodies: Barnacles want to mate but are permanently bound to whatever rock or hull they once latched onto.

Given that, they have evolved the longest penises of any creature for their size — up to eight times their body length — to seek out and have sex with their neighbors. (Most barnacles are hermaphrodites that alternate between male and female sexes over time.)

But large penises can be a problem, what with waves crashing down on the surfaces where these crustaceans often dwell.

A too-long penis could flop around uselessly in such turbulence, drastically cutting down a barnacle's chances for procreation.


Rest of article here.

Ain't science great? Heh.

H/T SondraK

3 comments:

ptg said...

A stunning example of penile esoterica.

Anonymous said...

Ok I can see it now,,, at Ronco we have created the ultimate penis enlargement treatment. We wisk you away to Tahiti and stand you naked it the huge blue waves. When your done floppin, the women will be a stoppin! LOL!

CGHill said...

Now I wonder about Barnacle Bill the Sailor.