Talk:Cloaca

Reproductive system

The inclusion of information about avian reproductive systems seems out of place in this article as well as inaccurate. (Birds do not regrow their reproductive systems prior to mating season; their genitals (testes/ova) enlarge from several hundred to a thousand times in size prior to mating season and revert thereafter.) Redtailed 11:09, 23 September 2006 (UTC)

It seems the language has been changed to re-engorged, following your suggestion, but the term 'regeneration' still exists which could still be a bit misleading. I think 'regenerate' would refer to the sex cells (ovaries?) which are regrown when the organs swell prior to the mating season. Tyciol (talk) 19:39, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

Phallus

No bird species have a penis. Some have a phallus, which is a pseudo-penis. -Unsigned

Like a hyena? It looks like the article reflects this now. Tyciol (talk) 19:39, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

Marsupials

Australian marsupials have a cloaca, right? --Josh 8:14pm (GMT+10)

For those that do, I expect it would be mentioned on the respectiv species' article. If that can be found, then it can be mentioned here. Judging by the comment below, Jedmichael agrees with you. Tyciol (talk) 19:39, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

Yes Marsupials do have a Cloaca, including Opossums, possums, wallabys, kangaroo's etc etc i work for a wildlife rescue org in Sydney, Australia since 2003 and ive seen my fair share of Cloaca's in Australia, the country with the most Marsupials heh. --Timon b (talk) 14:47, 12 June 2011 (UTC)

External openings

The monotremes and marsupials have one external opening: the cloaca; the intestines and urethra empty into the birth canal. Most placental mammals have two openings: an anus and a "vagina." For them, the urethra comes to its terminus inside the birth canal. Only primates have a urethral opening that can be considered external in females, giving them (us) three openings. Jedmichael 19:40, 29 December 2006 (UTC)

That's pretty cool, I didn't know that primates were so unique in this. Tyciol (talk) 19:39, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

Eggs

So do animals with cloaca poop eggs out their butt, essentially? That isn't made clear. -Unsigned

Based on Jed's summary above, it's not really a 'butt' (though it looks most like one IMO) but it's more like... the large intestine/omb/bladder are the same thing? Tyciol (talk) 19:39, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

Clarification

"Marsupials and monotremes also possess one (in marsupials and a few birds, the genital tract is separate)." This sentence seems a bit contradictory. Marsupials can't have both a cloaca and separate urinary and genital tracts. Perhaps somebody who is more knowledgeable about the subject can work on this? 206.21.160.136 (talk) 19:13, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

Maybe this refers to a cloaca in which the urinary/digestive system have the same tract but the genital tract is separae? I think the cloaca term covers both 2 and 3 in one. Tyciol (talk) 19:39, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

Do fish[/reptiles/amphibians] have cloaca?

I think [fish might have cloaca], but it's not clear here. Can you help? 89.247.247.164 (talk) 16:50, 20 February 2008 (UTC)no answer? )-: Idvash (talk) 15:35, 21 February 2008 (UTC)

I wouldn't be surprised, whenever I've cleaned them I've only noticed one hole. Tyciol (talk) 19:39, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

Ditto for reptiles (and amphibians?).

ie: how do snakes and lizards bump uglies? And frogs?

~ender 2010-06-14 20:14:PM MST

Echinoderms?

The last paragraph of this article talks about the cloaca of sea cucumbers. If echinoderms indeed do have a cloaca, I feel this should be mentioned in the introduction. Also, the article doesn't clarify the relationship between the echinoderm and amphibian/reptilian/avian cloaca ... are they homologous or just functionally similar? —Preceding unsigned comment added by TwirlySocrates (talk • contribs) 14:01, 23 August 2010 (UTC)

Tenrecs?

Tenrecs apparently have cloacas despite being placental mammals. This contradicts the assertion that "Adult placental mammals have no remaining trace of the cloaca". —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.166.149.77 (talk) 17:43, 23 August 2010 (UTC)

• I assume you mean an adult Tenrec? DB (talk) 05:33, 6 April 2011 (UTC)