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*Department of Anatomical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 4072
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The penis of elephant shrews (Mammalia: Macroscelididae)
Article first published online: 23 MAR 2009
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1995.tb02770.x
Additional Information
How to Cite
Woodall, P. F. (1995), The penis of elephant shrews (Mammalia: Macroscelididae). Journal of Zoology, 237: 399–410. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1995.tb02770.x
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*Department of Anatomical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 4072
Publication History
- Issue published online: 23 MAR 2009
- Article first published online: 23 MAR 2009
- Accepted 16 August 1994
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
The penis of elephant shrews is very long, extending cranially to near the sternum where it emerges from a small caudally-pointing prepuce. The distal half of the penis lies free in a sheath and is termed the glans. In most species the corpus cavernosum is the main vascular body and extends to the tip of the penis while the corpus spongiosum around the urethra becomes much reduced distally, but in Rhynchocyon all vascular bodies are small and most of the penis consists of connective tissue. The distal tip of the penis is elaborated into various shapes, characteristic for each genus as currently defined. These penile features have more similarities with soricids and paenungulates than with archontans and lagomorphs but they are likely to be primitive characters and so should be interpreted cautiously.