Evolution has provided us with a huge variety of animal genitalia to study. It turns out that while human sexuality is complex, it just doesn’t rise to the comparison with some members of the animal kingdom. Here is a list of some of the strangest genitalia to be found in nature.
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Enormous Barnacle Penis
Humans have the largest penises of all primates, both in relative and absolute terms. Compared to barnacles, however, we humans are mere tiddlers. Once barnacles leave their juvenile stage, they become anchored to a single spot, from which they’re unable to move. This is one instance of playing it too cool, and it presents something of a problem when they’re looking for a mate.
Lots of sessile organisms get around this problem by simply releasing their sperm, and hoping it will find an egg. For this purpose, the barnacle has developed the longest penis, relative to its body size, in the animal kingdom. The penis extends from the shell of the barnacle, and uses a swinging motion to locate a mate before releasing its sperm.