The animal world is full of surprises, with some creatures being more eye-catching than others because of their strange looks or unusual nature.
When I first saw a picture of this weird “penis snake,” I thought it was a joke. But, to my surprise, it turned out to be a real animal. So, let’s dive into the story behind the viral image that has left thousands of people in shock.
Throughout history, anything shaped like a phallus has grabbed attention and sparked curiosity. A few years ago, images of a strange-looking creature started making the rounds online, leaving many people scratching their heads in disbelief.
With its unique appearance, this mysterious animal quickly earned nicknames like the “penis snake,” “blind snake,” or the “man-aconda.”
But no, it’s not what you think.
Even though it looks a lot like a snake, this creature is actually called *Atretochoana eiselti*. It’s not a snake at all, but an amphibian, more closely related to a salamander. It’s also the largest known lungless tetrapod, which means it breathes through its skin instead of lungs.
This rare animal lives in the waters of the Amazon in Brazil and was hard to find for a long time. It was first discovered by Sir Graham Hales during an expedition with Sir Brian Doll in the late 1800s.
However, it wasn’t officially described until 1968. After more research, scientists reclassified it in 1996, giving it its own unique genus, *Atretochoana*.
In 2011, this species was rediscovered in the Amazon region. It lives only in the Amazon River and its largest tributary, the Madeira River in Brazil. The “penis snake” has only been found in this area and nowhere else in the world.
The viral pictures that blew up the internet a few years ago actually came from 2011. That’s when a whole family of these phallic-shaped creatures was found at the bottom of the Madeira River in Brazil. They were discovered when the river was drained during work on a hydroelectric dam.
Julian Tupan, a biologist working with the Santo Antonio Energy company on the dam, explained that not much is known about these lungless, limbless amphibians.
“Out of the six we collected, one died, three were released back into the wild, and two were kept for study,” he told *Estadao*, according to the U.K.’s *The Sun*.
Tupan pointed out that these “snakes” aren’t dangerous and are unlikely to show any aggressive behavior.
“Even though they look like snakes, they’re not reptiles; they’re more closely related to salamanders and frogs. We think the animal breathes through its skin and probably eats small fish and worms, but that hasn’t been proven yet.
“The Amazon is full of surprises when it comes to reptiles and amphibians. There’s still a lot more to discover.”
According to a paper published in the Brazilian scientific journal *Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi: Ciências Naturais*, one of these creatures found in the riverbed was photographed extensively. Some of the animals were released back into the Madeira River, while others were sent to the Emilio Goeldi Paraense Museum in Belem, Brazil.
The most popular photo, which Julian Tupan shared on Instagram, shows an adult female *A. eiselti* that’s just under 40 inches long.
Even though these creatures are fascinating, there’s still a lot we don’t know about them. One mystery that puzzles researchers is their diet. Scientists think these phallic-shaped animals might eat small fish, worms, and other aquatic invertebrates, but more research is needed to confirm this.
Another mystery about these creatures is how they breathe, as scientists haven’t confirmed the method yet. When the six specimens were discovered in 2011, it made things even more puzzling. What’s especially interesting is where they were found— in cold, fast-flowing water with limited oxygen. Since warmer water holds less oxygen, their ability to live without lungs is even more remarkable.
Based on these findings, scientists believe this species might be widespread across the Brazilian Amazon and could even extend into Bolivia.
Nature constantly surprises us with its endless wonders. From the deepest oceans to the tallest mountains, the natural world is full of amazing things waiting to be discovered.
Share this incredible story on Facebook with your friends and family to spark their curiosity and get them talking about the wonders of nature!
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen revealed they secretly welcomed fourth child – everything we know about their journey
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen had a difficult miscarriage before to the birth of their third child, and they have been transparent about it.
The couple has since revealed how, in secret, they welcomed a fourth child using an alternative way.
To learn more about the Wednesday birth announcement of their son, scroll down.
The couple was helped by a surrogate named Alexandra, and they did something amazing to show their gratitude for her support in welcoming their child into the world.
The minute we chatted with her, I knew she was the right person for us. “All of our goals and desires came true,” Chrissy wrote. “I wanted to rest my head on her belly and feel the kicks and hiccups, I wanted our kids to play, I wanted dinner together, and I wanted to be her friend. I desired for them to be in our lives for as long as possible.
https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?gdpr=0&client=ca-pub-3764810839868565&output=html&h=125&slotname=2267562348&adk=3033738429&adf=2733037623&pi=t.ma~as.2267562348&w=500&abgtt=6&fwrn=4&lmt=1722449085&rafmt=11&format=500×125&url=https%3A%2F%2Favokaddo.com%2F2024%2F07%2F09%2Fjohn-legend-and-chrissy-teigen-revealed-they-secretly-welcomed-fourth-child-everything-we-know-about-their-journey%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwY2xjawEXWx9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHVpkq7CuEf0LpzBdLAlrlE8NPfsSMqiboheagA6qSyejmjfp2nnmh4wmYw_aem_FdTnzwMyxGB20Lz2e8ZSng&wgl=1&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMC4zLjAiLCJ4ODYiLCIiLCIxMDkuMC41NDE0LjE2OCIsbnVsbCwwLG51bGwsIjY0IixbWyJOb3RfQSBCcmFuZCIsIjk5LjAuMC4wIl0sWyJHb29nbGUgQ2hyb21lIiwiMTA5LjAuNTQxNC4xNjgiXSxbIkNocm9taXVtIiwiMTA5LjAuNTQxNC4xNjgiXV0sMF0.&dt=1722448844598&bpp=1&bdt=334&idt=301&shv=r20240729&mjsv=m202407290101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Dd6f422181fa8e320%3AT%3D1712754368%3ART%3D1722448849%3AS%3DALNI_MbQ8K8Uz_tQiOWk9_ho73iGWbUvXg&gpic=UID%3D00000de663175333%3AT%3D1712754368%3ART%3D1722448849%3AS%3DALNI_MZzkvLBsYSBf99BTmrLqXAWredf6A&eo_id_str=ID%3D880422cb866d8cdc%3AT%3D1712754368%3ART%3D1722448849%3AS%3DAA-AfjYIkHBaiiV25sK_LhuhTK3y&prev_fmts=0x0%2C870x280%2C500x125%2C500x280%2C1090x582%2C500x125%2C500x125&nras=3&correlator=6158430832264&frm=20&pv=1&rplot=4&u_tz=420&u_his=2&u_h=768&u_w=1360&u_ah=728&u_aw=1360&u_cd=24&u_sd=1&dmc=8&adx=110&ady=3450&biw=1090&bih=582&scr_x=0&scr_y=1200&eid=44759876%2C44759927%2C44759837%2C44795921%2C95331832%2C95334527%2C95334830%2C95337026%2C95337868%2C31085705%2C95336522%2C95339231%2C95336267%2C31061690&oid=2&psts=AOrYGsl6LYZvUzkgDuc_4AaIlss_X8_gIIgRGBNXcsulHw4oSAexMdXTMdMDkTIhieVA6GVR2a_p-QQARHrUuMyRPxuet_g%2CAOrYGsk3Qzqdg8nOQ6owl4tiIa-zvYzfzNvOAMt3Znux_XC7xdkpl60QO9eZE2O8vcJNmQWszoWUM2DWOS9HAzC1BfwDxec%2CAOrYGsnAeR5s-iae7bePkyeLHT1w6g1p69hh0tkwnPBFLul82rRXOTUGGMSgwfiGeK8yfkPpdS3SFRhpGvj3sRyODonw5Jk&pvsid=3746652999860734&tmod=2070127978&uas=3&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fl.facebook.com%2F&fc=1920&brdim=164%2C24%2C164%2C24%2C1360%2C0%2C1123%2C702%2C1107%2C582&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CopeEbr%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=128&bc=31&bz=1.01&psd=W251bGwsbnVsbCxudWxsLDNd&ifi=6&uci=a!6&btvi=5&fsb=1&dtd=M
She talked about how Alexandra “fought to get ready for a second transfer,” enduring “the mental toll” that came with it, and sacrificing “her own body” for surgeries.
Esti, the couple’s daughter, was being carried by Chrissy Teigen concurrently with the other two ladies. Alexandra writes that they “were overjoyed” to find that she was having a son.
Chrissy reminisced, “We watched Vanderpump Rules with our expanding bellies and celebrated eating hot pot together for the past year.”
“Got to witness the most beautiful woman, my friend, our surrogate, give birth amidst a bit of chaos, but with strength and pure joy and love,” Chrissy said on Instagram on June 19.
And Chrissy and John made the amazing decision to honor their surrogate. “We would like to express our gratitude for this amazing gift you have given us, Alexandra,” Chrissy wrote. We are overjoyed to announce his arrival to the world, bearing the name Wren Alexander Stephens, which will always be associated with you.
Luna and Miles are the couple’s two older children. Six months ago, they also welcomed Esti, their third daughter.Additionally, John Legend posted a photo of himself and his family with the newest addition. “Wren Alexander Stephens, our new love,” he captioned.
With their newest member, the family appears to be very content. We hope the best for them! Tell your friends and family about this wonderful news on Facebook.
Leave a Reply