Question

I think the question already says it all. I know there exist animals that have both herm and female populations and other's with herm and male populations, I'm not personally aware of any animal that has herms, males and females but I suspect that also exists somewhere. I'm just curious which of these sex combinations is most common, ie which is most likely to evolve.

If you could also speak to why one sex combination may be more prone to evolve over another I'd be very interested in that, but I'd settle just for knowing which combination is more common.

I'm asking specifically about simultaneous hermaphrodites here, I know sequential hermaphrodites exist but that would just complicate the question.

Answer 1

Simultaneous hermaphrodites, such as earthworms, slugs, tapeworms, and snails, are more common in the animal kingdom. Simultaneous hermaphroditism offers advantages like increased mating opportunities and efficient reproduction in low mobility environments. Factors like reproductive strategies, environment, and genetics influence the evolution of different sex combinations.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the animal kingdom, hermaphroditism occurs when an individual has both male and female reproductive systems. There are two types of hermaphrodites: simultaneous hermaphrodites and sequential hermaphrodites. Simultaneous hermaphrodites, such as earthworms, slugs, tapeworms, and snails, have both male and female reproductive organs at the same time. On the other hand, sequential hermaphrodites, like some fish species, change their sex from male to female or vice versa during their lifetime.

When it comes to which sex combination is more common, simultaneous hermaphroditism is generally more prevalent in the animal kingdom. This is because simultaneous hermaphroditism provides several advantages, including increased mating opportunities, efficient reproduction in environments with limited mobility, and genetic diversity. Additionally, self-fertilization is often possible for simultaneous hermaphrodites, allowing them to reproduce even when a mate is unavailable.

However, the evolution of different sex combinations depends on various factors, such as the species' reproductive strategies, environmental conditions, and genetic influences. It is important to note that the frequency of each sex combination can vary across different animal groups and habitats.