Title
First reported case of diphallia in Corynorhinus townsendii
Author(s)
Fuller, N. W.;Haase, C. G.;Silas, K. A.;Olson, S. H.;McGuire, L. P.
Published
2019
Publisher
Western North American Naturalist
Published Version DOI
https://doi.org/10.3398/064.079.0313
Abstract
We describe the first reported case of diphallia in a bat, Corynorhinus totonsendii, captured during fall swarming at a hibernaculum in northern Utah, USA. Upon examination, we determined that one phallus was functional, as evidenced by production of urine, while the secondary phallus appeared to be overgrown with skin. A review of the medical literature relevant to diphallia suggests that this is a case of pseudodiphallia with a bifid shaft. We hypothesize that this morphological deformity likely has a low impact on the survival of this individual but may act as a physical barrier to copulation. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of diphallia in bats.
Keywords
limb malformations;conjoined twins;bat;Biodiversity & Conservation;Environmental Sciences & Ecology

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