12 Animals That Are Both Male And Female, And They're Not What You Think
12 Animals That Are Both Male And Female, And They're Not What You Think
Sep 14, 2017 2:44 PM
The fact is, the only constant in life is change. But some lives get more change than others. And not all changes are equal in scope.
You might not think so, but humans aren't the only animals that have a complicated relationship with the male and female idea. There are many, many animals that not only take on characteristics of the opposite gender, but that can do a wholesale swap. And it does them a lot of good!
You can't tell whether a spotted hyena is male or female just by looking at it because both males and females appear to sport male equipment. Female hyenas are unique among mammals — they're the only ones without an external vaginal opening. Instead, their "clitoris is enormously elongated to form this fully erectile pseudopenis through which they urinate, copulate and give birth," says spotted hyena expert Kay Holekamp of Michigan State University.
The typical way to tell a male bellbird from a female is that males have darker feathers, and females have a white stripe on one cheek. However, a specimen was caught with both darker feathers and a white stripe and displays male behavior although genetic testing showed it was born female.
Made famous by Finding Nemo, clownfish are born as hermaphrodites, but later become male, with one subordinate to one breeding female, and may not breed for many years. When the female dies, the subordinate male becomes the new breeding female.
5. Giant Australian Cuttlefish
Some males among the largest species of cuttlefish have been seen imitating the coloring and behavior of females as a way of escaping the notice of larger males to get closer to breeding females. Pretty crafty!
6. Marsh Harriers
Just like the giant cuttlefish, smaller male marsh harriers will mimic females with their coloring to get closer to females without aggressive males noticing. However, it's not just younger marsh harriers, as more than 40 percent of them will keep the female coloring for their whole lives.
Jineesh Mallishery | National Geographic
7. Red-Sided Garter Snakes
If you're not a fan of snakes, you probably don't want to hear that although harmless, these snakes breed in "swarms." Yeah, not the greatest image. But when they're breeding en mass, the males need to stick out, so they'll emit female pheromones to attract a female and try to get her alone. All of which must make things... interesting.
8. Bluegill Sunfish
A lot is going on with the males of these fish. Male bluegills come in three varieties: parentals, satellites, and sneakers. Parentals attract females, build nests, and care for the babies. Satellites take on the look and behavior of females to the point that parentals will allow them into the nest. And while the satellite is in the nest, he'll help fertilize the eggs. In fact, the eggs will end up with three doses of fertilizer because the sneakers are small enough to pass as young fish and can swim in and add their own ingredients to the mix.
9. Common Reed Frog
When there aren't enough males in the population for sufficient breeding, females will just switch teams — and vice versa.
10. Chicken
That's right; even ordinary barnyard-standard chickens have been known to change it up. It doesn't happen often, but hens can have a successful career laying eggs and go on to take over the roost, grow a comb, and crow the neighborhood awake.
The Guardian | Evan Kafka | Getty Images
11. Slipper Limpet Snails
Okay, you can be forgiven for not knowing if these things have a sex at all, but they do. It doesn't happen every time, and the change takes time to happen, but males can change into females just by coming into contact with other males. In fact, all slipper limpet snails are born male, and all eventually become female sometime after reaching maturity.
12. Cushion Starfish
You can't tell just by looking at it, but the cushion starfish starts its life as a male, and as it grows, it becomes female.
Main image via reddit / popstarpoop
Collage image via Bali Wild Life
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