Researchers say previous studies have mistaken the female snake’s organs for scent glands or underdeveloped versions of the penis, The Guardian reports.

In a study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, researchers said they discovered that snakes have two separate clitoris — the hemiclitor — separated by tissue and hidden by skin on the underside of the tail.

“Female genitalia are clearly neglected compared to male genitalia, limiting our understanding of sexual reproduction in vertebrates,” the study authors write.

Male snakes and lizards are known to have a hemipenis – a pair of penises that protrude outside the body during reproduction. In many species, the hemipenis are covered with spikes or hooks.

Lead study author and University of Adelaide PhD student Megan Falwell said the “massive taboo around female genitalia” was a potential factor in why the snake’s clitoris had not been described before. “I think it’s a combination of not knowing what to look for and not wanting to,” she said.

Falwell said the team believes the hemiclitor “may provide some sort of stimulus signal for vaginal relaxation and lubrication, which would aid the male during copulation and prevent damage to these hemipenis hooks during mating.”

Photo by Sasin Tipchai|Dreamstime.com