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Darwin would posit that the female would have what? Another study reports on the exaggerated anatomy of the male Argentine lake duck, whose penis is about the same length as its body. The case is especially intriguing because very few species of birds have penises.

Vigorous in Courtship
Clumsy on land, the male Argentine lake duck spends most of its time in the water. Its unusual anatomy may be related to strong competition in mating and reproduction.
Photograph by Eric and David Hosking/Corbis

Researchers from the University of Alaska discovered that the penis of Oxyura vittata, when fully extended, measures about 17 inches (0.5 meters) long. When not in use, the corkscrew-shaped penis retracts into the duck's abdomen.

The trait is one that bears further study, say the researchers. It opens some interesting questions about the dynamics of male competition and sperm competition at a pretty high level in birds resulting in the anatomy evolving in this way, said Kevin McCracken, the lead author of a report on the finding published last month in Nature.