Nature's Shapeshifters: Animals That Can Change Sex

Love Lohiwal

Sexual transformation is, without question, the rarest phenomenon in nature, but some animals possess this unique ability: the ability to change their biological sex.

Clownfish

This transformational behavior goes further to ensure that the group does not die out since a new male will always be available to copulate with the newly transformed female clownfish.

Parrotfis

Parrotfish are sex changers and also beautiful and the behavior is naturally part of their life history. These reef inhabitants also tend to begin their life as females, and as a male becomes dominant, this female later transforms into a male.

Wrasse

parrotfish, many species of wrasse can change sex from female to male. This is also a form of sequential hermaphroditism and in such a case, this female and the largest of the group “ becomes a male”.

Common Reed Frogs

Sex-changing ability is another interesting phenomenon as seen in the case of ecology frogs in Africa focus point around managing population. The shifting of sex from male and female ensures that the environmental requirements are met.

Sea Bass

Sequential hermaphroditism is also another intraspecific relationship that can be seen in many species of sea bass. Such fish are capable of assuming females or eventually becoming male in different seasons of life span thus ensuring they have optimal chances of reproduction.

Slipper Limpets

There is a small marine snail known as the Slipper Limpet that professes something completely opposite in terms of changing genders. However, as they go through a sex transformation process, they often attempt to interact with potential partners, who need to reach sexual maturity first.

Migrating

They have an interesting reproductive behavior since they are sequential hermaphrodites. In groups, if the dominant male passes away, the largest female will transition to male within a few days. Males and females focus on distantly balancing a few fundamental relationships within their society.