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Hermaphroditism: Understanding Organisms with Both Sex Organs

 
Hermaphrodite

Hermaphrodite

Hermaphrodite, an organism that has both male and female reproductive organs. For some species, hermaphroditism is normal. Hermaphroditic plants have both pistils (female sex organs) and stamens (male sex organs) in a single flower. Such animals as flatworms and certain species of segmented worms, mollusks, crustaceans, and fish are hermaphroditic; each individual can produce both eggs and sperm. Hermaphroditism sometimes occurs in individuals of a species whose members normally have only male or only female sex organs. A human baby can be born with both ovaries and testes, but in most cases neither reproductive system is complete.