Chimpanzees and raccoons have a bone in their penis, but not man. It’s a curious question, the answer of which excites many, but British scientists believe that they have come very close to it. Experts explain that the penile bone helps male individuals maintain mating for longer. This ensures that they will be the fathers of the future generation and not someone after them. We humans tend to be monogamous and don’t worry as much about someone else being with our partner, so there’s no need for a penis bone, the researchers explain. The question the research team is trying to clarify is exactly when and why the penile bone evolved. It was found that it first happened 145 million years ago and again about 95 million years ago. Not every mammal has a penile bone, and its presence is not consistent even among closely related species. Chimpanzees and great apes, humans’ closest relatives, have a penis bone, but humans do not. According to the researchers, this may have to do with competition between male species. NEWS_MORE_BOX The penile bone facilitates sexual intercourse. It physically supports and protects the male genital organ, while at the same time helping to transfer the sperm to the cervix. In animals, the penile bone is also associated with so-called “prolonged penetration”. With it, it is important that the female is occupied until the sperm reaches the appropriate place – on its way to fertilize the egg. The researchers add that humans don’t need it. A man usually ejaculates about two minutes after penetration. There is no such competition among people. The data were published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.