The animal world is full of surprises, with some creatures being more eye-catching than others because of their strange looks or unusual nature.
When I first saw a picture of this weird “penis snake,” I thought it was a joke. But, to my surprise, it turned out to be a real animal. So, let’s dive into the story behind the viral image that has left thousands of people in shock.
Throughout history, anything shaped like a phallus has grabbed attention and sparked curiosity. A few years ago, images of a strange-looking creature started making the rounds online, leaving many people scratching their heads in disbelief.
With its unique appearance, this mysterious animal quickly earned nicknames like the “penis snake,” “blind snake,” or the “man-aconda.”
But no, it’s not what you think.
Even though it looks a lot like a snake, this creature is actually called *Atretochoana eiselti*. It’s not a snake at all, but an amphibian, more closely related to a salamander. It’s also the largest known lungless tetrapod, which means it breathes through its skin instead of lungs.
This rare animal lives in the waters of the Amazon in Brazil and was hard to find for a long time. It was first discovered by Sir Graham Hales during an expedition with Sir Brian Doll in the late 1800s.
However, it wasn’t officially described until 1968. After more research, scientists reclassified it in 1996, giving it its own unique genus, *Atretochoana*.
In 2011, this species was rediscovered in the Amazon region. It lives only in the Amazon River and its largest tributary, the Madeira River in Brazil. The “penis snake” has only been found in this area and nowhere else in the world.
The viral pictures that blew up the internet a few years ago actually came from 2011. That’s when a whole family of these phallic-shaped creatures was found at the bottom of the Madeira River in Brazil. They were discovered when the river was drained during work on a hydroelectric dam.
Julian Tupan, a biologist working with the Santo Antonio Energy company on the dam, explained that not much is known about these lungless, limbless amphibians.
“Out of the six we collected, one died, three were released back into the wild, and two were kept for study,” he told *Estadao*, according to the U.K.’s *The Sun*.
Tupan pointed out that these “snakes” aren’t dangerous and are unlikely to show any aggressive behavior.
“Even though they look like snakes, they’re not reptiles; they’re more closely related to salamanders and frogs. We think the animal breathes through its skin and probably eats small fish and worms, but that hasn’t been proven yet.
“The Amazon is full of surprises when it comes to reptiles and amphibians. There’s still a lot more to discover.”
The most popular photo, which Julian Tupan shared on Instagram, shows an adult female *A. eiselti* that’s just under 40 inches long.
Even though these creatures are fascinating, there’s still a lot we don’t know about them. One mystery that puzzles researchers is their diet. Scientists think these phallic-shaped animals might eat small fish, worms, and other aquatic invertebrates, but more research is needed to confirm this.
Wikipedia Commons / Tobias von AnhaltAnother mystery about these creatures is how they breathe, as scientists haven’t confirmed the method yet. When the six specimens were discovered in 2011, it made things even more puzzling. What’s especially interesting is where they were found— in cold, fast-flowing water with limited oxygen. Since warmer water holds less oxygen, their ability to live without lungs is even more remarkable.
Based on these findings, scientists believe this species might be widespread across the Brazilian Amazon and could even extend into Bolivia.
Nature constantly surprises us with its endless wonders. From the deepest oceans to the tallest mountains, the natural world is full of amazing things waiting to be discovered.
Share this incredible story on Facebook with your friends and family to spark their curiosity and get them talking about the wonders of nature!
“I’m More Lips Than Human”, A Woman Struggles to Eat Due to Her Huge Lips but is Determined to Make Them Even Bigger
Vienna Würstel stands out as an extraordinary personality on various fronts. Identifying as a “plastic fantastic” beauty enthusiast, she has recently captivated online audiences with her impressive 30ml lips. Despite facing persistent online trolling, she remains steadfast in her pursuit of fuller lips, sharing her beauty journey and challenges on social media.
Vienna has been causing a significant buzz on the internet.
Vienna Würstel, a self-proclaimed “plastic fantastic” beauty influencer, has undergone a lip enhancement procedure, receiving 30ml of filler. Her noticeably voluminous lips have stirred mixed reactions across the internet.
Residing in Mallorca, Spain, Vienna openly acknowledges the challenges posed by her substantial lip enhancement, confessing that even simple tasks like sipping water become a formidable undertaking. She humorously refers to herself as “more lips than human.” Despite the attention garnered on social media, Vienna doesn’t shy away from the reality that she faces significant criticism, evident in the relentless stream of negative comments beneath her Instagram posts.
Vienna is resolute in her pursuit of making her lips even bigger.
In her recent TikTok video, Vienna disclosed that approximately 30ml of fillers still reside in her lips, expressing her hope for even further enhancement in the future. Undeterred by criticism comparing her to a duck, the courageous and resolute woman remains committed to enlarging her lips.
In her own words, “I really, really wish for even bigger lips and I can’t wait for that.” Vienna candidly admitted that achieving more substantial lips is currently her foremost aspiration. However, this has sparked concern among some users, who question the safety of Vienna’s ongoing plastic surgery procedures.
Vienna asserts that all her beauty procedures are safe and bring her pleasure.
The woman remains steadfast in reassuring her subscribers that the substantial amounts of filler she has chosen are entirely safe. Emphasizing the professionalism and high qualifications of her plastic surgeons, she affirms, “If they weren’t highly qualified, they couldn’t reach the sizes on my face, so yes, I’m safe.”
Despite her admiration for her enhanced pout, Vienna openly acknowledges the challenges she faces, particularly when it comes to drinking. In another clip, the plastic surgery enthusiast admits that eating is relatively smooth for her, as long as it involves softer foods. However, she discloses that drinking beverages proves to be more challenging due to her lips. Vienna shares that, because of her lip size, she sometimes feels it’s difficult to function, but she views it as a personal challenge that she’s determined to adapt to.
Here’s another remarkable story of an unstoppable woman whose dream was to emulate Barbie, leading her to invest millions in her transformative journey.
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