hemipenis

plural hemipenes · plural hemipenises

1. anatomyEach of a pair of intromittent organs of male snakes and lizards, usually held inverted within the body but everted for reproduction via erectile tissue.

   Charles […] found her stroking the goanna in such a way – no one else could do it – that its pale hemipenes emerged pale and spiky from their sheaths.

   1985, Peter Carey, Illywhacker, Faber and Faber, published 2003, page 475

   Synonyms: hemipeen, hemipene