"Penis Snake" Discovered in Brazil
It's a snake! It's a penis! It's a... penis snake?
Actually, it's neither. It's an Atretochoana eiseltiis, better known as a caecilian or a limbless amphibian.
Engineers working on a dam in the Amazon discovered the snake-like creature at the bottom of Brazil's Madeira River, which was being drained as part of the construction project.
Biologist Julian Turpan told The Sun that six of the animals were spotted. Little is known about the species, besides the fact that they have no lungs or limbs.
"Of the six we collected, one died, three were released back into the wild and another two were kept for studies. Despite looking like snakes, they aren’t reptiles and are more closely related to salamanders and frogs," he said.
"We think the animal breathes through its skin, and probably feeds on small fish and worms, but there is still nothing proven.The Amazon is a box of surprises when it comes to reptiles and amphibians. There are still much more to be discovered."
What would you do if you found one of these in your bed backyard?
Megan Sayers is the managing editor for ModernMom. Follow her on Twitter @MeganSayers
- Log in to add favorite
- Share
