Hemipeneal Plug in Chameleons

Chameleons possess two copulatory organs on the left and right sides, called hemipenes. These organs are situated in pockets at the base of the tail and can retract into them, controlled by a specific muscle that relaxes when the organ is extended. 

Erection of the hemipenes occurs through lymphatic flow rather than blood, as is the case in mammals. 

Because hemipenes are of ectodermal origin, they retain some qualities of the skin, including the ability to shed their surface when it becomes aged. Since they are retracted into the pockets, the shed material does not drop off as it does from the skin of the body and extremities; instead, it is shed into the lumen of the retracted organ and can sometimes become lodged there. Typically, this material is expelled alongside feces. However, it can occasionally get stuck inside retracted hemipenes and obstruct the organ's function. Chameleons with hemipeneal plugs cannot copulate effectively. 

It is essential to remove it if hemipeneal plug is found to have formed.

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