Why did Homo sapiens suddenly develop longer male genitalia? An important detail has been uncovered.

It seems that the penises of our ape-like ancestors, who had barely descended from the trees, were mostly small and disproportionate. This is also true for our closest relatives, the primates (see fig). You might not notice it right away.

The enormous males of gorillas provide a striking example of male attributes. Nature has "gifted" them with some misunderstanding – a mere 3 centimeters in length when erect. Other ape species also have little to boast about.

In contrast, Homo sapiens – the wise man. According to scientific data, the average length of a human penis is about 13 centimeters. Of course, micro-penises do occur in the population – even smaller than those of chimpanzees. However, these are deviations from the norm.

What or who do men owe their relatively impressive attributes to?

Comparative average sizes of penises when erect.

Scientists argue about the reasons, proposing various hypotheses. Recently, British scientist Simon Underdown, a professor of biological anthropology at Oxford Brookes University, suggested his own explanation. The Western press eagerly picked up and replicated his thoughts.

According to the professor's explanation, our distant ancestors increased the relative sizes of their reproductive organs after they began walking on two legs. Bipedalism and the subsequent changes in mating positions and practices are, in the scientist's opinion, the main reasons for the elongation.

After all, what is the purpose of a penis? For reproduction. To deliver the male's genetic material to the designated place as effectively as possible – where it will inevitably meet the female's genetic material. This is why bipeds needed a "tool" of appropriate size – purely for mechanical reasons. Otherwise, it didn't always work out well. Gradually, the penis elongated to the current average sizes. Evolution… This is Underdown's straightforward hypothesis.

ANOTHER OPINION

Look for a woman

Perhaps the British scientist has a point, but personally, I prefer another evolutionary hypothesis – also related to bipedalism but based on external perceptions.

At one time, Australian scientists claimed that human penises increased in size because women wanted them to, driven by a desire to reproduce.

Essentially, the intelligent females organized a natural selection process whereby they chose more substantial partners – in terms of their male attributes. Thus, they increased their chances of conception.

As a bonus, women experienced more intense and varied sensual sensations.

These figures, among others, were shown to female participants in Australia.

The active and interested participation of women in the development of male "attributes" was highlighted by Brian Mautz, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Ottawa, and his colleagues from Monash University, the Australian National University, and La Trobe University. The results of their research and experiments were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

According to the Australian scientists, the elongation occurred even before the invention of clothing – at a time when naked men were constantly in view of every woman. The "attributes" of our distant, yet already bipedal ancestors were, so to speak, on display.

Women looked and, accordingly, chose larger penises – already for practical reasons, intuitively sensing that the longer, the better. In terms of conception. Thus, the natural selection process took place, ultimately leading to the current sizes. Otherwise, Homo sapiens might have been left with "tools" like those of gorillas – three centimeters when erect.

What is most surprising, as discovered by the scientists: the ancient predisposition of women towards impressive male attributes has persisted to this day. At least at a subconscious level. No matter what the fairer sex claims to persuade men that, for example, their sense of humor is much more important.

- The size of the penis significantly affects male attractiveness, - explained the leader of the Australian studies, Dr. Brian Mautz. - More precisely, we found that women rate larger penises higher than smaller ones.

The researchers uncovered secret female preferences by showing 105 female volunteers videos with computer-stylized images of men – without portrait details. Hundreds of videos. They were asked to rate the attractiveness of these men on a scale of 1 to 7. The figures in the images varied in body type, height, proportions, and, of course, that specific area.

The result: the majority of women preferred figures with longer penises. The man's height and the ratio of his shoulder width to hip width ranked lower in women's preferences.

Interestingly, as Mautz reported, very large penises were not particularly popular among the participants, just as very small ones were. Statistical analysis showed that Australian women preferred penises whose sizes in a flaccid state ranged from 12.8 centimeters to 14.2 centimeters.

Sitting in water. Perhaps growing something. For distant descendants…

Photo: Shutterstock.

BY THE WAY

There is also another – quite original and logical idea: evolution elongated human penises due to water activities and resort romances. Figuratively speaking, of course.

The essence: the final transformation of our ape-like ancestors into humans occurred on the shores of water bodies and in the water itself. And intimate contacts directly in the water contributed to the corresponding elongation. After all, in water, the longer, the better from basic hydraulic considerations: the genetic material won't accidentally wash away.