Sex-changing animals

Our pick of 10 species that can switch their sex

Leoma Williams

1. Clownfish I’m afraid that the film Finding Nemo is not quite biologically accurate. Clownfish start out life as males then can later change sex to become females. If the large dominant female is removed from a group, then the largest male will become female and take her place. Thus, in real life, Nemo’s dad could have become female (and might have even mated with his son). 2. Bearded dragon Like mammals, bearded dragons start off genetically male or female, however, if temperatures creep above 32ºC during egg incubation, those with the typical male chromosome will instead develop into females. The exact reason for this female-producing strategy is unknown. 3. Humpy shrimp Named after the humps along their abdomens, these shrimps can also start off as males and then become…

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Bbc Wildlife (Digital) - 1 Issue, August 2024

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