Have you heard of hermaphrodite animals or have both reproductive devices? Did you know that it can be a permanent trait or be something changing? Really, hermaphrodite animals have a certainly peculiar reproduction.
If you want to know what they consist and see some species that have this reproductive feature, we recommend this ecology article. Then discover the Hermaphrodite animals, its reproduction and examples of species.
What are hermaphrodite animals
In the animal kingdom two basic types of reproduction are distinguished: asexual, without exchange of genetic material between individuals, and sexual, with the formation of female and male gametes that carry half of the genes of their respective parents. Within the sexual reproductionwe find a modality that is the Hermaphrodite reproduction. In this case, gametes are formed, but The same individual can lead to gametes of female and male typefor which they will have two well -differentiated reproductive devices (female and male respectively).
Within hermaphroditism we also find permanent or simultaneous hermaphroditism and sequential hermaphroditism. In this last variant the same individual has different reproductive organs throughout their life cycle. Some fish are able to carry out this change.
Hermaphroditism usually occurs in solitary animals for which it is difficult to locate potential couples. This occurs for example in worms, which are buried in a volume of soil, with few possibilities of communication with their peers. Thus, when luck is conducive to an encounter, the species ensures that it gives two fertilized viable individuals.
Reproduction of hermaphrodite animals
The reproduction of hermaphrodite animals It may include complex courtships, as in the case of snails. In addition, it is usually a external fertilizationin which male and female gametes are released to the environment, where fertilization occurs.
Some help the generation of “spermatophores”, a sack -shaped structure that contains a sperm mass wrapped in a roof. This protective cover can also include various nutrients.
Difference between cross fertilization and self -feeding
The Hermaphrodite animals they can fertilize their gametes In two different ways:
- Cross fertilization: It requires two individuals who exchange their male and female gametes simultaneously. This is the case, for example, of the snails.
- Self -female: In this case, the individual himself can gather his female and male gametes to generate new individuals.
Beyond the obvious differences when the number of individuals involved in fertilization, there is a clear effect on genetic variability. The main advantage of sexual reproduction against asexual is the greatest genetic variability that is generated, which allows both diseases due to consanguineity and forming a more variable population that can better adapt to changes in their environment. With the cross fertilization strategy this variability is still maintained.
But is self -feeding equivalent to asexual reproduction? No, it is not so. During the formation of gametes (or gametogenesis) there is a process of cross -linking in the chromosomes of the individual, which gives rise to new gene combinations. Thus, the variability produced through this variant is on horseback between the variability generated by asexual reproduction and by canonical sexual reproduction. Let us also not forget that mutations can be a source of new alleles (variants of the same gene).
Hermaphrodite animals: examples
Is hermaphroditism a frequent characteristic? No, most species have male or female individuals, whose sex is defined by their chromosomal endowment (not their gender). Anyway, we can find some examples of hermaphroditas animals Well known in nature:
Snails
Some species of snails are hermaphrodites; In any case, all hermaphrodite snails depend on cross fertilization. The coupling between two individuals can last several hours and consists of two processes: first a “dart” form that contains stimulating secretions are launched. Once the two snails are receptive, they emit a spermatophore, a structure that contains the sperm that accesses the cavity where the female gametes are located. The set usually understands about five eggs.
Guppy fish
Guppy fish is a good example of sequential hermaphroditism. Depending on the conditions of the environment (mainly the ratio between males and females around it), the Guppy fish is able to change its sex. This requires important changes in the expression of the genetic and remodeling material of body structures.
Other hermaphrodite animals
- Sea stars.
- OFIURES.
- You had.
- Frogs
- Trematodes
- Worms
- Flat worms.
- Slugs.
- Sanguijuelas.
- Clown fish.
- Cleaning lord fish.
- Old fish.
- Pale serrano fish.
- Julia fish, maiden or mouth.
- Hoccyt labrid.
- Golden
- Falcon fish
- Shrimp.
- You go.
- Zamburiñas
- Oysters
- Slugs or sea dancers.
- Sea sponge.
- Lapas.
- Corals
- Fresh water hydra.
- Anemones.
- Fresh water.
The seahorse is an external fertilization animal, but is it a hermaphrodite?
Although It is not strictly hermaphroditethere are some animals that have a reproduction away from the typical male-hembra patterns.
In the species of sea horsethe male makes a release of seminal fluid to the environment. The female, then, begins to transfer the oocytes to the abdominal sack of the male through an ovositor organ. During this transfer, fertilization is performed (therefore, the seahorse is an animal with external fertilization). The embryos reach the male cavity and develop there until the hatching of the eggs and the exit outside the youth.
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