Crane Fly With Double-Barreled Penis Discovered in Australia

Posted on September 29, 2016

A crane fly with a double-barreled penis has been discovered in Australia. The unusual crane fly was discovered by Professor Gunther Theischinger in Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales. The fly was found in a creek.

The crane fly is about 1.5 centimeters long. It has very tiny wings. The species has been named Minipteryx robusta. Professor Theischinger says the fly's genitalia are very different from that of about 1,000 crane fly species.

Professor Theischinger told ABC News, "It doesn't even fit into any of the genera that are known from Australia, and even across the whole planet." He also says, "The particular features of the inserting organ are not very normal in this group of flies, because usually it's a hose or pipe-like structure, [but] in that case it's a double-barrelled structure."

Professor Theischinger says the crane fly is more adapted for walking then flying because of its small wings. A female Minipteryx robusta has not been yet been found. A research paper on the new species can be found here.



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