Hemipenis
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<speciesfyi-glossary slug="hemipenis"></speciesfyi-glossary>Definition
One of a pair of intromittent organs found in male squamate reptiles, used alternately during mating.
Detailed Explanation
The hemipenis is not a true penis but an eversible organ stored inverted within the tail base. During mating, one hemipenis is everted into the female's cloaca — which hemipenis is used is apparently random. Hemipenis morphology (shape, scale ornamentation, presence of spines) is highly species-specific and taxonomically informative, used by herpetologists to distinguish cryptic species that are externally nearly identical.