The largest, from a sperm whale, is 70 kilograms and 1.7 metres long. The smallest, a hamster penis bone, is just two millimetres, and you need a magnifying glass to see it. One species conspicuously absent is Homo sapiens, but that may soon be rectified since a German, an American, an Icelander and a Briton have promised to donate their organs after death.

The American, Stan Underwood, 52, supplied a written description of his penis — which he purportedly nick-named "Elmo" — for display alongside a life-size plastic mould of the member as well as his pledge to donate it. Mr Hjartarson said the Icelandic donor, 93, was a womaniser in his youth, who thought having his penis in the collection might bring him eternal fame. But vanity may make him rethink the offer. "He has mentioned lately that his penis is shrinking as he gets older, and he is worried it might not make a proper exhibit," Mr Hjartarson said.

The museum opened in Reykjavik in 1997 and later moved to the fishing village of Husavik, 480 kilometres north-east of the capital. Open from May to September, the building's entrance is marked by a tall brown phallus near the door, and a penis-shaped sign over the front porch. Visitors from all over the world view the collection each year, 60% of them women.

The specimens, most of which were donated by fishermen, hunters and biologists, are kept in glass jars of formaldehyde or dried and mounted on the wall, creating an atmosphere that is part science lab, part trophy room. Mr Hjartarson has paid for only one — an elephant penis nearly a metre long that hangs, stuffed and mounted on a wooden board, in the museum's "foreign section". He said he began collecting penises 24 years ago, when working as a school administrator. "It was just a hobby," he said. Mr Hjartarson maintains a light-hearted approach, saying a sense of humour is necessary to appreciate the collection.

REUTERS