Dr. C's Science Corner, Plus a Correction

Some months ago, you may remember a post on our friend's blog that included an allusion to Willem Defoe's stage show that included leading an anthropomorphic duck around by its genitals . . .

No? Well, here it is: Larryville Chronicles

In response, I made a comment about ducks having no penis at all, which, as it turns out, is incorrect. Although about 97% of all bird species have no penis (or phallus as biologists prefer to refer to them, since they're not actual penises), ducks are different. In fact, some ducks have ridiculously long phalluses, sometimes as long as the rest of the duck's body. In addition, the duck can shoot its phallus out in an attempt to aggressively deliver its sperm during forced copulation. If you dare, see the slow-motion video here:

Duck Phallus Eversion (WARNING: It's pretty gross.)

Of course, no duckess is going to just take this kind of behavior, so female ducks have evolved an oviduct (analogous to the vagina) with all kinds of counterscrews and dead-end pockets. The female ducks can relax or contract the structures in the oviducts to either allow or deny intromission.

If you want to read a longer summary of the research, look here: Kinky Science

For the original research in all its scientific glory, see here:

Coevolution of Male and Female Genitalia Morphology in Waterfowl

PLOSone is a favorite journal of mine. You may also remember it as the source of the first documented non-human fellatio. Missed that one? Here's the link to that exciting story:

Bat Fellatio