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Hermaphrodite

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Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior

Synonyms

Alternative mating tactics; Dual sexuality; Sex changer

Introduction

A hermaphrodite is an organism that possesses the reproductive organs of both sexes and can reproduce as either male (by producing sperm or pollen) or female (by producing ova). The term “hermaphrodite” has sometimes been used to refer to humans whose biological sex is ambiguous. This usage has fallen out of favor and in any case was technically incorrect. The essential characteristic of hermaphrodites is the ability to reproduce as both male and female. No such case has been identified in any human (Puts 2009).

Types of Hermaphroditism

Hermaphrodites are divided into two categories: simultaneous and sequential. Simultaneous hermaphrodites are both male and female from the time of sexual maturity, whereas sequential hermaphrodites switch sexes one or more times during the lifespan. Sequential hermaphroditism is further divided into protandry, in which individuals mature as males and later change into...

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References

  • Avise, J. (2011). Hermaphroditism: A primer on the biology, ecology, and evolution of dual sexuality. New York: Columbia University Press.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Kevin A. Rosenfield

Authors
  1. Kevin A. Rosenfield
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kevin A. Rosenfield .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oakland University , Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Jennifer Vonk

  2. Department of Psychology, Oakland University Department of Psychology, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Todd Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Constance Dubuc

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Rosenfield, K.A. (2018). Hermaphrodite. In: Vonk, J., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_329-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_329-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-47829-6

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