Each testicle can weigh up to 500kg- 900kg. ![]() However, nothing can compare in size to the southern right whale’s testes. Testes come in all shapes and sizes in the animal kingdom. This network consists of veins and arteries stacked very tight to promote countercurrent blood flow keeping certain body parts cool or warm. To keep their testicles cool they utilized a network of blood vessels known as the rete mirabile. Having their reproductive organs stay inside their body could lead to testes overheating. In fact, their penis originates from two fused structures attached to a vestigial pelvic bone. Right whales’ pelvic bones are not used for movement but for penile erection and control. The whale male reproductive system is completely different from humans’ because it is all internal! The main evolutionary advantages of having an internal reproductive system are better hydrodynamics and minimizing heat loss (since testes have a lot of blood vessels). Here is a rendition of the differences between a male and female southern right whale - Credit: Naomi Mathew Scientists think these folds prevent excess water from entering the vaginal area. Finally, their vaginas have multiple folds (the shape and number depend on the species). Second, whales do not have their period! Instead of shedding their uterine walls, their body will reabsorb the lining. It has a single cavity and the fetus will develop in only one of the uterine horns. First, the right whale’s uterus is bicornuate, meaning it’s more heart-shaped than pear-shaped. A southern right whale with her calf - Credit: Lee Dingain What makes whales’ reproductive systems uniqueįor females, the reproduction system is very similar to what humans have, apart from a few key differences. ![]() This article will explain the unique features of whales’ reproductive systems and explore the potential reasons for the right whale’s bigger-than-average organs. However, we find animals in the wild kingdom with various large parts: elephants have large trunks, baboons have oversized butts … and male southern right whales have massive testes. In our world, we say size does not matter.
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