Animals That Can Change Gender

Darwin’s Theory of Evolution rules the animal kingdom: to survive and reproduce successfully, organisms change over time to better adapt to their environments through behavioral or physical modifications. From wild animals that change their diets and those who use camouflage to prey or flee, to urban birds who assemble their nests on buildings rather than trees, adaptation is key.

One of the more interesting and rarer evolutionary traits happens in animals that possess both male and female organs (known as hermaphroditism). Some species can even switch back and forth between both sexes for reproductive advantages. Here are 7 incredible examples of natural selection.

7. Frogs

One of the better know and intriguing hermaphrodites are fish. From smallmouth and largemouth bass who grow immature egg cells within their testes to Hawkfish who can switch back and forth between sexes, gender fluidity in the animal world is nothing new. A beloved protagonist in “Finding Nemo”, the clownfish is a sequential hermaphrodite, it can switch from male to female when necessary. All clownfish are born male and the most dominant in the school turns female and lays eggs. While certain species have been known for their astounding reproduction abilities for a while, studies show that gender change in others can be a result of hazardous environmental pollution.  For instance, between 70 to 90 percent of male bass in the United States have become intersex because of pharmaceutical compounds from pesticides and birth control pills.