The animal world is full of surprises, with some creatures being more eye-catching than others because of their strange looks or unusual nature.
When I first saw a picture of this weird “penis snake,” I thought it was a joke. But, to my surprise, it turned out to be a real animal. So, let’s dive into the story behind the viral image that has left thousands of people in shock.
Throughout history, anything shaped like a phallus has grabbed attention and sparked curiosity. A few years ago, images of a strange-looking creature started making the rounds online, leaving many people scratching their heads in disbelief.
With its unique appearance, this mysterious animal quickly earned nicknames like the “penis snake,” “blind snake,” or the “man-aconda.”
But no, it’s not what you think.
Even though it looks a lot like a snake, this creature is actually called *Atretochoana eiselti*. It’s not a snake at all, but an amphibian, more closely related to a salamander. It’s also the largest known lungless tetrapod, which means it breathes through its skin instead of lungs.
This rare animal lives in the waters of the Amazon in Brazil and was hard to find for a long time. It was first discovered by Sir Graham Hales during an expedition with Sir Brian Doll in the late 1800s.
However, it wasn’t officially described until 1968. After more research, scientists reclassified it in 1996, giving it its own unique genus, *Atretochoana*.
In 2011, this species was rediscovered in the Amazon region. It lives only in the Amazon River and its largest tributary, the Madeira River in Brazil. The “penis snake” has only been found in this area and nowhere else in the world.
The viral pictures that blew up the internet a few years ago actually came from 2011. That’s when a whole family of these phallic-shaped creatures was found at the bottom of the Madeira River in Brazil. They were discovered when the river was drained during work on a hydroelectric dam.
Julian Tupan, a biologist working with the Santo Antonio Energy company on the dam, explained that not much is known about these lungless, limbless amphibians.
“Out of the six we collected, one died, three were released back into the wild, and two were kept for study,” he told *Estadao*, according to the U.K.’s *The Sun*.
Tupan pointed out that these “snakes” aren’t dangerous and are unlikely to show any aggressive behavior.
“Even though they look like snakes, they’re not reptiles; they’re more closely related to salamanders and frogs. We think the animal breathes through its skin and probably eats small fish and worms, but that hasn’t been proven yet.
“The Amazon is full of surprises when it comes to reptiles and amphibians. There’s still a lot more to discover.”
The most popular photo, which Julian Tupan shared on Instagram, shows an adult female *A. eiselti* that’s just under 40 inches long.
Even though these creatures are fascinating, there’s still a lot we don’t know about them. One mystery that puzzles researchers is their diet. Scientists think these phallic-shaped animals might eat small fish, worms, and other aquatic invertebrates, but more research is needed to confirm this.
Wikipedia Commons / Tobias von AnhaltAnother mystery about these creatures is how they breathe, as scientists haven’t confirmed the method yet. When the six specimens were discovered in 2011, it made things even more puzzling. What’s especially interesting is where they were found— in cold, fast-flowing water with limited oxygen. Since warmer water holds less oxygen, their ability to live without lungs is even more remarkable.
Based on these findings, scientists believe this species might be widespread across the Brazilian Amazon and could even extend into Bolivia.
Nature constantly surprises us with its endless wonders. From the deepest oceans to the tallest mountains, the natural world is full of amazing things waiting to be discovered.
Share this incredible story on Facebook with your friends and family to spark their curiosity and get them talking about the wonders of nature!
Prince William reveals devastating sorrow: ‘Ohh my wife…’
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTAs) isn’t shy to famous guests and perhaps the biggest name of anyone in attendance was the Prince of Wales and future King of England, who appeared sad as he discussed his wife’s health.
Prince William’s wife of 13 years, Kate Middleton, recently had abdominal surgery at The London Clinic for undisclosed reasons, and Lady Diana Spencer’s son had no intention of revealing those to the public either.
It normally wouldn’t be an issue as the Royal Family are very secretive about health but, in a stark contrast, King Charles III was very open about his own prostate surgery and then his diagnosis of an unrelated cancer.
“I’ve seen less than ever,” Prince William said, on how many films he has watched. “With my wife it’s been a bit… But I hope we catch up, I’ll make my list tonight.”
Why all the hush?
Middleton simply may not want her private affairs to be known to everyone in the world, which is a reasonable request made by many normal people too, but it hasn’t stopped conspiracies and questions flying around…
The question on many lips is if the King is so transparent about his own health to the nation, then why is the ex-Dutchess of Cambridge being so private?
The only thing we know thus far is that it is not cancer, Kensington Palace made that very clear. Nonetheless, many suspect it could be Crohn’s Disease, a hysterectomy or surgery to handle avid refluxes following the delivery of three children in the last decade.
The question on many lips is if the King is so transparent about his own health to the nation, then why is the ex-Dutchess of Cambridge being so private?
The only thing we know thus far is that it is not cancer, Kensington Palace made that very clear. Nonetheless, many suspect it could be Crohn’s Disease, a hysterectomy or surgery to handle avid refluxes following the delivery of three children in the last decade.
Whatever the reason, it knocked the future Queen off her feet as she needed her entire immediate family to rally around her and to look after her children, George, Charlotte and Louis.
That included her husband who stepped back from official royal duties for a brief period, whilst Middleton is expected to return to hers after Easter once she is back to a full recovery.
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