ANTC23H3 Lecture Notes - Baculum, Orgasm, Pleiotropy
Document Summary
Wide diversity of shapes, even among closely related primate species. Can have different sizes, shapes, appendages, etc. A-e on the slide are all different galago species. Can use penile morphology alone to tell galago species apart. Bone inside the penis of some animals. Tends to be near the distal end, where structural support might be most needed. Species with elongated bacula tend to be those having. Maintenance of intromission after ejaculation has occurred. In the eocene, adapids (similar to modern-day lemurs) had an extremely long bacula. Possible indication of prolonged intromissions during copulation. Human males lack a baculum, yet prolonged copulation is possible because of increased vascularisation providing the structural rigidity necessary for copulation. Looking back and making eye contact with males. May help to dislodge or move copulatory plugs. When the male intromits and thrusts, the spines point ventrally (towards the proximal end of the penis), acting as anchors to pull the plug out.
