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Marsupial Double Standard
Like other marsupials, male koalas have a bifurcated (forked) penis, while females have two lateral vaginas and two uteruses.
Koala
Phascolarctos cinereus
These iconic Australian marsupials have unusual reproductive anatomy and some of the strangest parenting behaviors in mammals.
Vital Stats
🏷️ TypeMarsupial (wombat relative)
🌍 Found InEastern Australia — eucalyptus forests
📏 Size60-85cm, 4-15kg
⏳ Lifespan13-18 years
🔞 Sexual MaturityMales: 3-4 years | Females: 2 years
💕 Mating SystemPolygynous — dominant males bellow to attract females
📅 Mating SeasonAugust - February (Southern Hemisphere spring/summer)
🤰 Gestation35 days, then 6-7 months in pouch
👶 Offspring1 joey per year
🍆 Penis Size3 cm
⏱️ Sex Duration2 minutes
🔬 Notable AnatomyMales have bifurcated penis; mothers feed joeys 'pap' (feces) to transfer gut bacteria for digesting eucalyptus
⚖️ Sexual DimorphismMales 50% larger with scent gland on chest