Which of the following animals can change their gender during their life span?

Key Points

• Snails are one of the few animals capable of changing their gender during their lifespan.
• This phenomenon is known as sequential hermaphroditism, where an organism changes its sex at some point in its life.
• Snails, particularly those in the class Gastropoda, exhibit this trait to maximize their reproductive success.
• The ability to change gender allows snails to adapt to their environment and increase the chances of finding a mate.

Additional Information

• Sequential hermaphroditism is also observed in other species such as certain fish and plants.
• There are two main types: protandry (male to female) and protogyny (female to male).
• In snails, this adaptation can help balance the population and improve genetic diversity.
• Understanding these mechanisms can provide insights into the evolutionary strategies of different species.