Nature is filled with cylindrical life-forms, from worms to snakes to plant stems. An amusing consequence of this evolution is that there are plenty of organisms resembling the human penis. Some of these phallic species are branded with willy-related scientific names, while others have risen to internet stardom because of a single photo taken from just the right angle.
See moreThe appropriately named penis worms are a group of marine worms with a phallic appearance. Their scientific name, Priapulida, honors the well-endowed Greek god Priapus. The largest Priapulida species grow to around 16 inches long, according to a 2013 study published in Zoologischer Anzeiger - A Journal of Comparative Zoology.
Stinkhorn fungusStinkhorn fungi produce a slimy, penis-shaped mushroom that smells like rotting flesh. The mushroom, which is the visible part of the fungus, emerges from an egg-shaped base and often grows near rotting wood and plants. When fully grown, this mushroom can be 10 inches tall. A 2007 study published in the journal Revista de Biología Tropical looked at stilt roots in walking palm trees . The findings suggest that stilt roots enable the palms to rapidly increase their height and maintain stability without having to invest in increasing stem diameter, which means they can exploit light gaps in the canopy faster.
These sea stars live on reefs at shallow depths down to just 16 inches below the surface and feed on coral polyps and other small invertebrates, according to SeaLifeBase, a Canadian online database of global marine life. Proboscis monkey nosesIncluding specific animal appendages on this list is a slippery slope, but the noses of proboscis monkeys deserve a special shout-out. Male proboscis monkeys have large, dangling noses for attracting mates, and those schnozes can look more than a little suggestive from the right angle.