Sequential Hermaphrodites

1. Sequential Hermaphrodites By Shannon Storey

2. What is a sequential hermaphrodite? Sequential hermaphroditism occurs in species that are born as one sex but can change into the other sex. Most sequential hermaphrodites only change sex once. There are a few species that change sex multiple times. The gonads of sequential hermaphrodites posses the genetic information needed to produce both male and female reproductive organs, but only the dominant gene is expressed at any given time.

3. Types of Sequential Hermaphodites There are two types of sequential hermaphrodites: 1. Protandry - organism is born as a male and changes to a female. 2. Protogyny - organism starts as a female and changes to a male.

4. What species are sequential hermaphrodites? Sequential hermaphroditism is common in fish and gastropods (commonly known as snails and slugs) Examples: Clownfish ( protandrous ) Wrasses ( protogynous ) Common slipper shell

5. Bibliography " Gastropoda -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia . 14 Nov. 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastropods >. " Hermaphrodite -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia . 14 Nov. 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermaphrodite >. " Hermaphroditism ." Reefscapes . 2002. 14 Nov. 2009 <http://www.reefscapes.net/articles/articles/2002/hermaphroditism.html >. Images: http:// www.indyzoo.com/pdf/Oceans-Clownfish.jpg http:// www.richard-seaman.com/Wallpaper/Nature/Underwater/Fish/CheckerboardWrasse.jpg http:// www.huntsmanmarine.ca/assets/images/slippershell.jpg http:// www.wallpapergate.com/data/media/1260/clown_fish_wp001.jpg