First reported case of diphallia in Corynorhinus townsendii

Authors

Nathan W. Fuller, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TXFollow
Catherine G. Haase, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MTFollow
Kirk A. Silas, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Health Program, Bronx, NYFollow
Sarah H. Olson, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Health Program, Bronx, NYFollow
Liam P. McGuire, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TXFollow

Abstract

We describe the first reported case of diphallia in a bat, Corynorhinus townsendii, 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.


Describimos el primer caso reportado de difalia en Corynorhinus townsendii capturado durante el enjambre de otoño en un hibernáculo en el norte de Utah, USA. Tras el examen, determinamos que un falo era funcional, como lo demuestra la producción de orina, mientras que el falo secundario parecía estar cubierto de piel. Una revisión de la literatura médica relevante para la difalia sugiere que este es un caso de pseudodifalia con un eje bífido. Nuestra hipótesis es que esta deformidad morfológica probablemente tenga un bajo impacto en la supervivencia de este individuo, pero puede actuar como una barrera física para la cópula. Por lo que sabemos, este es el primer caso reportado de difalia en murciélagos.

Recommended Citation

Fuller, Nathan W.; Haase, Catherine G.; Silas, Kirk A.; Olson, Sarah H.; and McGuire, Liam P. (2019) "First reported case of diphallia in Corynorhinus townsendii," Western North American Naturalist: Vol. 79: No. 3, Article 13.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/wnan/vol79/iss3/13