O-fish-ially queer fun facts!
Fish species can change their sex
There are over 500 species of fish that change sex! Some fish begin their lives as males and transition to females, like the clownfish. Others, like the California sheephead, hatch as females and can change to male as they go through sexual maturity.
Asexual reproduction observed in sharks
Some species of fish, invertebrates, reptiles, and birds, can reproduce asexually—no mate required. Through a process called parthenogenesis, females use extra genetic material to fertilize eggs and grow babies completely on their own. This phenomenon has been observed frequently with various species of sharks such as zebra sharks, bamboo sharks, and more recently, leopard sharks!
© 2006 Frans Lanting
Same-sex Laysan albatross couples
Albatrosses spend most of their lives far away from shore. When they return to land to nest, they reunite with the same partner every year. At the Ka‘ena Point Laysan albatross colony on Oahu, a third of those pairs are made of two females—one pair has even been observed together for 17 years and has raised eight chicks together!
Penguin parents come in all pairings
Penguins may be black and white, but when it comes to their sexuality, it’s a spectrum. Same-sex penguin pairs are pretty prevalent in both males and females, and have been documented across multiple penguin species! Some couples stay together for life, while others might eventually find another mate of the same or different sex.
Flatworm reproduction is versatile
Flatworms are hermaphroditic, carrying both sperm and eggs. Some flatworms reproduce asexually—literally tearing themselves into two pieces to create two individuals. But when it comes time for romance, flatworms stay en garde; instead of courting a mate, they engage in hypodermic impregnation—also known as penis fencing—where two flatworms will battle it out, attempting to stab and inject one another with sperm.
Protandric simultaneous hermaphroditism
All Pacific cleaner shrimp start their lives as males, and get more in touch with their feminine side as they mature—growing female reproductive organs, while still keeping their fully functional male organs! This is called “protandric simultaneous hermaphroditism” and it occurs in many organisms.
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