As in all other matters sexual there is immense variation throughout the animal kingdom in the
actual duration
of the coital act. In fact intercourse can range from a few seconds to many hours. Copulating
snakes typically
remain in union for one or two hours or for much longer periods - there is a suggestion that
six to twelve hours
is average. The record is held by a pair of rattlesnakes who remained in copulatory connection
for no less than
22¾ hours. Such long periods may in part be explained by the difficulty the male has, on
account of his spiked
penis, in getting away! The fluke, Schistosoma heamatobium - with the female eternally living
within a fissure
in the male's body-has been said to exist in a state of "permanent copulation."