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!
Katy Perry’s Top Broke on the Show, and Some Viewers Got Mad With Her
During a contestant’s performance on American Idol, Katy Perry‘s silver sculptural crop top became unfastened at the back. The moment went viral, however, some people got angry by this situation.
Katy Perry had to quickly take cover when she experienced a wardrobe malfunction live on American Idol.
The 39-year-old took refuge behind her desk when a large piece of her top broke off during Roman Collins’ performance. Host Ryan Seacrest humorously warned, “Katy, don’t cut yourself!”
Katy was wearing a metallic outfit with sharp edges at the time. In response to the incident, she exclaimed, “I need my top to stay on! If it’s not fixed, this show is going to get more than it wanted.”
Thankfully, with some assistance from the show’s production team, Katy was able to compose herself after initially shielding her modesty with a cushion. After Roman sang “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” by James Brown, she humorously commented, “That song… um… broke my top off… I guess it is a woman’s world!”
Her fellow judge Luke Bryan chimed in, “Ratings, ratings, ratings! Here come the ratings!” Katy quipped, “It’s a family show!”
Luke then praised Roman, “You literally have the ability to blow the roof off the place.” Adding to the humor, Katy remarked, “Or a top!”
Several commenters on Perry’s Instagram expressed annoyance about the incident, attributing it to the impractical outfit she chose to wear.
“Maybe don’t wear a ship anchor to a TV show,” one commenter suggested.
“Maybe try wearing proper clothes rather than dressing as the tin man!?” another recommended.
“Ahhh, the joys of wearing stupid clothes,” remarked another.
Recently Katy made another headline with her fashion choice. The star wore a revealing outfit that showcased her new lower back ’tattoo’.
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