A hermaphrodite is an organism containing both male and female genitalia. They are able to produce both male and female gametes by themselves. Most hermaphrodites are invertabrates, however there are some vertabrate hermaphrodites. Hermaphrodites are characterized into two major groups: Sequential and simultaneous.
Sequential hermaphrodites undergo a sex change during their life. their are two types of sequential hermaphrodites:
Protandry-when an organism is born as a male and then changes to a female. ex. Clownfish
Protogyny-when an organism is born as a female and changes to a male. ex. wrasses(a group of reef fish)
Simultaneous hermaphrodites contain both male and female sexual organs. An example of a simultaneous hermaphrodite is an earthworm.
How might a species benefit from being able to reproduce by itself?
http://icb.oxfordjournals.org/content/46/4/473.full
What might be some drawbacks to being a hermaphrodites?
http://leisureguy.wordpress.com/2006/09/26/the-drawbacks-faced-by-hermaphroditic-species/
If Alex Furman suddenly changed sex how would he be classified?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermaphrodite
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1. You wouldn't have to spend time and energy trying to find a mate or in the mating process.
ReplyDelete2. That both of the two want to play the male role.
3. Pseudohermaphrodites