Telstra wrote:
>
> The Age this morning ran a story on the 'Argentinian lake duck'.
> Apparently
> this duck has a penis that can stretch up to 42.5 cm. (This is about
> the
> length, head to tail-feathers, of the duck).
>
> Most male ducks do not have penises but this does. By god it does! It
> is
> shaped 'like a corkscrew' with 'spines at its base and a brush-like
> tip',
> Before ejaculation it uses its penis 'like bottlebrushes to remove
> sperm
> stored in the oviduct by the female's previous consort'.
>
> (And I had to take a cold shower reading about fairy wrens and their
> techniques for randy female sperm removal. I am currently typing this
> from
> my laptop in the backyard swimming pool. This is Melbourne in spring
> -- it
> isn't funny).
>
> Apparently the article discussing this is in the current issue of
> Nature.
> On checking my Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol 1, I assume the
> bird
> described is Oxyura vittata or the Argentinian blue-billed duck. Or am
> I in
> an April 1 timewarp? Or have I got the wrong duck?
>
> The photo in HOTBOTW doesn't show as much as does the Age photo. And
> I
> looked in Narosky/ Yzurieta, Birds of Argentina & Uruguay (my copy
> opened
> immediately at the required page!) but there is nothing there either.
>
> Questions abound. The Age article concludes 'scientists are yet to
> determine
> how much of his penis the drake actually inserts'. I want to know.
> This is a
> worthwhile research topic.
>
> Harry Clarke.
>
I can state from personal observation at Serendip(Vic)that the
Australian Bluebilled Duck is similarly well endowed. During mating the
female is totally submerged for some time; why she isn't drowned I don't
know. After the male releases her they seem to remain connected for
several seconds at least, with the male's appendage floating on the
water like sausage-casing. It definitely appeared longer than the drake
himself.
Anthea Fleming in Ivanhoe (vic).
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