Researchers have scientifically described the clitoris of a snake for the first time. 

Snakes have an incredibly diverse array of penises, but scientists have been somewhat in the dark about female snake genitalia. 

But this is changing, with researchers from Australia and the US having examined nine species of snake, and found each had a distinct clitoris.

PhD Candidate Megan Folwell from the University of Adelaide led the research.

“Across the animal kingdom female genitalia are overlooked in comparison to their male counterparts,” Ms Folwell says.

“Our study counters the long-standing assumption that the clitoris (hemiclitores) is either absent or non-functional in snakes.”

The research involved examination of female genitalia in adult snake specimens, compared to adult and juvenile male snake genitalia.

“We found the heart-shaped snake hemiclitores is composed of nerves and red blood cells consistent with erectile tissue - which suggests it may swell and become stimulated during mating,” says Associate Professor Kate Sanders, also from the University of Adelaide.

“This is important because snake mating is often thought to involve coercion of the female – not seduction.”

“Through our research we have developed proper anatomical descriptions and labels of the female snake genitalia. We can apply our findings to further understand systematics, reproductive evolution and ecology across snake-like reptiles, such as lizards.”

The study was published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B Journal.

“We are proud to contribute this research, particularly as female genitalia across every species is unfortunately still taboo,” said Ms Folwell.

Associate Professor Sanders added the research would not have happened without Ms Folwell’s fresh perspective on genital evolution.

“This discovery shows how science needs diverse thinkers with diverse ideas to move forward,” she said.

The snakes studied included the Acanthophis antarcticus (also known as the Death adder), Pseudechis colleti, Pseudechis weigeli, and Pseudonaja ingrami (native to different parts of Australia), the Agkistrodon bilineatus (native to Mexico and Central America as far south as Honduras), Bitis arietans (native to semiarid regions of Africa and Arabia), Helicops polylepis (from Estación Biológica Madre Selva, Peru), Lampropeltis abnormal (from Los Brisas del Mogoton, Nicaragua), and Morelia spilota (native to Australia, New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea), Bismarck Archipelago, and the northern Solomon Islands.)

The study is accessible here.