Penis Snake Discovered In Brazil

A group of engineers building a dam in the Amazon recently discovered an Atretochoana eiseltiis, better known as a caecilian, which some people might know as a limbless amphibian, but, let’s be honest, the creature pictured above is a penis snake.

Monga Bay reports that the strange creature was discovered while the Madeira River was being drained as part of a damn building project in Brazil’s Madeira River. Biologist Julian Tupan said that six penis snakes were found at the bottom of the river.

Tupan said:

“Of the six we collected, one died, three were released back into the wild and another two were kept for studies. Despite looking like snakes, they aren’t reptiles and are more closely related to salamanders and frogs. We think the animal breathes through its skin, and probably feeds on small fish and worms, but there is still nothing proven.The Amazon is a box of surprises when it comes to reptiles and amphibians. There are still much more to be discovered.”

The Digital Journal notes that the discovery was made last November but it was only announced this week after biologist deemed that it was a new species.

Informally, the new Amazon River dweller is being called a “floppy snake,” but media outlets are having a little fun coming up with names like penis snake and man-aconda.

Anybody else have a good name for the Atretochoana eiseltiis?