Is Penis Snake Real? Yes, but It’s Neither a Snake nor a Phallus

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Shyamal)
Is Penis Snake Real? Yes, But It's Neither a Snake Nor a Phallus

A penis snake has earned various names like a "man conda" or a "floppy snake." However, despite its appearance, it's not a real snake and has nothing to do with a man's member.

What's a Penis Snake?

A penis snake (Atretochoana eiselti) has earned its name due to its appearance. It was first found in the Brazilian rainforest. The term "atretos" means "imperforate" while "choana" denotes a funnel or tube shape.

Penis snakes are caecilians. They are a class of limbless, serpentine amphibians that resemble snakes but have earthworm-like rings around their bodies.

This caecilian species was discovered in the same area in 2011 and was first identified during an expedition in the late 1800s. It's the largest of the few known lungless tetrapods.

It's unclear how the penis snake breathes because it's not a snake. Salamanders and other lungless amphibians live using cutaneous respiration -- gas exchanges through moistened skin at this point. Plethodontids breathe through both the oral mucous membrane and their skin. However, these surfaces must always be moist to absorb oxygen.

There are various difficulties for an animal without lungs. The largest lungless tetrapod is about half as huge as the penis snake. They have a broad, flat head, an expanded mouth, shut nostrils, and movable cheeks. Additionally, the dorsal fin is fleshy.

The penis snake is thought to have weak vision. This isn't surprising as caecilians is a Latin word that means "blind ones." However, it uses its keen sense of smell to locate food, partners, and shelter.

Scientists believe that the penis snake feeds on small fish, worms, and other aquatic invertebrates because it is a caecilian. To be sure, though, more investigation is needed to confirm this.

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Penis Snake Invasive in Florida?

In a report for the Florida Museum of Natural History, it is confirmed through new DNA testing that the legless amphibians caught in Miami's Tamiami Canal in 2019 were caecilians, commonly referred to as rubber eels or penis snakes. Penis snakes aren't eels, either.

The first Florida Tyronectes nations specimen, measuring two feet in length, was captured in Miami's C-4 Canal, near Miami International Airport, in 2019. It was transported to the Florida Museum for DNA study after it passed away in captivity.

The manager of the Herpetology Collection at the Florida Museum, Coleman Sheehy, stated that he has since received multiple other specimens from the same canal.

"At this point, we really don't know enough to say whether caecilians are established in the C-4 Canal," he said. "That's what we want to find out."

Although their original introduction to Florida is unknown, experts believe that since Typhlonectes natans are the most common caecilian in the pet trade and are frequently bred in captivity, there is a good likelihood they were released as abandoned pets. This information is based on information provided by the Florida Museum of Natural History.

"I didn't think we'd one day find a caecilian in Florida. So, this was a huge surprise," Sheehy said.

Although very little is known about these creatures in the wild, they don't seem to be very deadly or significant predators, according to Sheey. Penis snakes are reportedly likely to consume tiny animals and fall victim to larger ones. So, they might be just one more exotic species in the mix of South Florida fauna.