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.”
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.
Wikipedia Commons / Tobias von AnhaltAnother 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!
Justin Bieber posts picture of himself crying, fans get concerned, and then wife Hailey responds
It has been well over ten years since Justin Bieber first came to prominence. The singer gained early success and, at the young age of 15, achieved worldwide recognition with the publication of his mega-hit song “Baby.”
With millions of followers, the singer is still incredibly popular at the age of thirty. Discover the image that worried fans by reading on.
Yesterday, Justin Bieber uploaded an image to Instagram that worried a lot of his fans. Two of Bieber’s crying photos were uploaded online. The pop artist was seen crying in the photos while looking straight into the front-facing camera on his phone.
The images were part of the singer’s Friday “photo dump.” It featured a number of pictures, none of which appeared to be connected to the others in any manner.
Random pictures were included with the photos of Bieber crying. While one of them showed a pair performing, another may have shown some marijuana, albeit it was too hazy to be certain.
Thus, the images of Bieber sobbing appear even more disorganized and haphazard. The poignant picture revealed a different aspect of the singer that not many people get to witness. It is remarkable for a male artist to be so transparent about their emotions on Instagram, posting photos of themselves crying.
The images worried followers of Justin Bieber. “I hope you are doing okay, i hate to see tears running down your face,” wrote one individual in a letter. “Idk what you’re going through man, but hang in there,” penned a worried fan. Find your true self and hold on—peace will come. You can do this!
Another fan said, “I love that you’re not afraid to show your vulnerability and emotions,” in response to the singer’s honesty. It’s always wonderful to keep in mind that there are still people behind every single celebrity. I adore you.
“Justin is a real man he is not afraid of showing his emotions,” said another admirer.
Hailey Bieber, Justin’s wife, took care to inform everyone that the photo may not have been as serious as others were portraying it to be. In a playful remark, she referred to him as “a pretty crier.” Her remark let supporters know that it wasn’t a significant issue for them to worry about.
Nonetheless, Bieber appears to be doing okay based on the several other updates he posted on his Facebook following this specific photo dump!
What are your thoughts on Justin Bieber sharing photos of himself sobbing? Tell us in the comments section below!
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