FAQ : Do Turtles Have Penises And Vaginas?

Home » How Do Turtles Have Sex » FAQ : Do Turtles Have Penises And Vaginas?

Maybe your like

FAQ : Detailed View!

Do turtles have penises and vaginas?

Yes, similar to all other vertebrates male sea turtles have a penis and female sea turtles have a vagina. Both are internal organs located inside the tail. The penis is > 30 cm in length in male green turtles, and the hook at the end of the penis, adjacent to the sperm duct presumably assists in sperm transfer. Both sexes have a cloaca, an opening on the tail that permits sexual intercourse, egg laying and removal of wastes. During mating, the male hooks his tail under the female (he has a claw like tip on the end of his tail) and then brings the cloacas together to allow entry of the penis into the females cloaca. Very little is known about the mechanisms involved in mating and sperm transfer and these are areas of biology that warrant more investigation. Turtles have been seen mounted for over an hour, but it is impossible to tell whether intromission has occurred the whole time. For more information on the anatomy, please see the NOAA Guide to sea turtle anatomy, by Dr Jeanette Wyneken. Answer courtesy of Mark Hamann, The World Conservation Union - Vietnam Office.

Submitted by: luke -- [email protected]

Search

Looking for something in particular?
More search options

Pages Updated On: 17-Mar-2014 - 11:59:09

Tag » How Do Turtles Have Sex