Hermaphroditic Animals

Content

• Types of hermaphroditism
• Examples of hermaphroditic animals
• More examples:

Thehermaphroditic animals They are those that have both female and male organs. In other words, they are organisms that can be male or female. In other words, they are organisms that can produce both male and female gametes (cells).

This does not mean that hermaphroditic organisms have to change their sex, but from a biological point of view they can.

This characteristic occurs in many Invertebrate animals and in vegetables. However, we will put aside all hermaphrodite organisms that are not animals for another opportunity.

Strictly speaking, hermaphroditic animals, since they can produce both types of gametes, could, in theory, fertilize themselves. However, in general and saving exceptions, they need a partner for procreation.

• Example: A hermaphroditic animal that is born with one type of sex and then can change to others is the Guppy fish. This is a tropical water fish that breeds mainly in captivity. The same species can be born female and, in the absence of nearby males, it can become male (or vice versa) to procreate the species.

Types of hermaphroditism

There are two types of hermaphroditism:

• Sequential hermaphroditism. They are those species that are born with a type of sex and then, in their adulthood, modify it.

• Simultaneous hermaphroditism. Certain species can alternately become male or female depending on the sex that the species needs at a given time.

In animals or hermaphroditic species, sex is not determined by the number of chromosomes (X or Y) that determine whether a species is male or female. On the contrary, the sex will be determined by the maturity around the environment of each species.

Hermaphroditism in humans

Although it is not very frequent, there are certain human beings that are potentially born with a penis and a vagina at the same time. This must be evaluated by a doctor who determines the sex of the child. In these cases their genitalia are ambiguous.

Examples of hermaphroditic animals

More examples:

Insects

• Bus

Amphibians

• Poisonous frog

Fishes

• Guppy
• Steal them
• Cabrilla
• Parrotfish
• Crepidula fornicata