The speed of the evolution of the lizard's amazing little boy

A new study found that the penis of some lizards evolved six times faster than the rest of their bodies. This is considered to be the first long-standing conjecture evidence of scientists that, in many animals, the external genitalia changes faster than other body parts.

Researcher Julia Klaczko from Harvard University (USA) and other colleagues reviewed 25 species of Anoli s lizard in the Caribbean and compared the evolution of external genitalia (lizard's penis). called hemipenis) with other parts of their body.

The lizard's penis is tubular structures with a groove so that semen can flow through. The research team has measured the length and width of the penis in many specimens of the above species.

According to research reports, experts found that lizards, despite their close relatives, still possessed an extremely different penis. These genital organs are really diverse in shape, from cylindrical tubes to deep two-lobed structures, with radios, meat spines, contours or prongs.

Klaczko researcher believes that the difference may be due to the mating selection process. According to her, the female of some species looking for a partner who owns a natural penis is more suitable or helps stimulate more effectively than their genitalia. That makes the species evolve the size and shape of the male "boy" faster.

However, Ms. Klaczko did not rule out the possibility, that change may have originated in an evolutionary arms race between male lizards and female lizards in controlling the breeding process.