Hermaphrodites and Hermaphroditism

Hermaphroditism is a very interesting phenomenon. Hermaphrodites have both male and female reproductive organs. Some hermaphrodites are able to switch between being male or female while others are born with both reproductive organs and are given the option to choose a gender later in their life.

Hermaphroditism occurs in harsh ocean conditions because of sexual selection. Sexual selection is the competition over a mate and ultimately helps to advance the species. Sexual selection leads to hermaphroditism in some marine animals because many species have a difficult time finding mates in the harsh ocean conditions.

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