Viktor Kovylin, editor of Russian scientific journal Batrachospermum, said the launch of an upcoming book on the sexual life of animals has been complicated following a legal analysis by the publisher.

The book – which has been translated into Russian from another language – includes descriptions of animals who possess both male and female genitalia, which editors have been told amount to “propaganda for non-traditional genitalia”.

“Hermaphrodites have fallen victim to censorship – snails, slugs and flatworms will now have to apologise and adopt separate sexes to ensure the book’s publication,” Mr Kovylin joked in a Telegram post.

The book also includes “neutral scientific descriptions of homosexual behaviour” in animals, which the team has been told is “considered propaganda for non-traditional relationships” in humans.

Mr Kovylin said editors have now been left in the position of having to “rewrite half the book” or to try to challenge the legal analysis, which he added appeared to have been drawn up with the use of AI.

He also said the magazine’s website had briefly been taken offline by Russian censor Roskomnadzor because it had been “mistaken for porn” — apparently because its name, Batrachospermum, includes the word “sperm”.