Do fish have penises? I know most don't, but do some?
Posted by wierdling@reddit | marinebiology | View on Reddit | 15 comments
Posted by wierdling@reddit | marinebiology | View on Reddit | 15 comments
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
marinebiology-ModTeam@reddit
Your post was removed as it violated rule #8: Responses to identification requests or questions must be an honest attempt at answering. This includes blatant misidentifications and overly-general/unhelpful identifications or answers.
blugar44@reddit
Members of the Poeciliidae family (the live bearers like guppies, mosquitofish etc.) have a structure called the gonopodium - a modified anal fin that is used to transfer sperm packets to the female to enable internal fertilisation. Not a penis of course, but the structure performs a similar function. As well as the claspers of sharks and rays that other commenters have mentioned.
Smrgel@reddit
A few other cyprinodontiforms have a gonopodium or andropodium. Goodeids and four eyed fish fertilize internally
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
marinebiology-ModTeam@reddit
Your post was removed as it violated rule #8: Responses to identification requests or questions must be an honest attempt at answering. This includes blatant misidentifications and overly-general/unhelpful identifications or answers.
Gurk_Vangus@reddit
Do you like fish sticks?
marinebiology-ModTeam@reddit
Your post was removed as it violated rule #8: Responses to identification requests or questions must be an honest attempt at answering. This includes blatant misidentifications and overly-general/unhelpful identifications or answers.
Hybodont@reddit
Sharks and rays have paired claspers, which aren't technically penises, but they perform the same reproductive function as penises (internal fertilization).
Squidmaster129@reddit
Surely that’s technically a penis, no? I mean what are we defining as the fundamental penis?
Hybodont@reddit
No. Penises are their own, distinct appendage. Claspers are grooved extensions of the pelvic fin. That is the main distinction.
Squidmaster129@reddit
Huh. The more you know.
tony-thot@reddit
Also elasmos do not urinate through the claspers
Cha0tic117@reddit
Fish do not have penises. This is a specific reproductive structure that is only associated with tetrapod vertebrates (tldr, all vertebrates apart from fishes, i.e. mammals, birds, reptiles).
Most fishes have external fertilization, with the females releasing eggs into the water or onto some structure, and males releasing sperm onto the eggs to fertilize them. There are some groups of fishes which have internal fertilization. Elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) are the most obvious examples, with males possessing claspers. Claspers are calcified extentions of the pelvic fins that the males insert into the female's cloaca for internal fertilization. Claspers are often referred to as penises, however they are different in their form, orgin, and function. There are other types of fishes that have internal fertilization, however the mechanics behind that are not as well understood.
tiktaalik_lives@reddit
Mosquitofish also have internal fertilization.