While it is true that members of most sexually reproducing
species can be defined as either male or female, those who belong
to the rest of the biological world are not so simply understood.
Hermaphroditic creatures reproduce both as male and as female
individuals, providing a fascinating glimpse into alternative
sexual practices in nature and their ecological and evolutionary
successes and failures.
Eloquently written by an award-winning biologist and pioneer in
molecular ecology, this primer on hermaphroditism traces the
phenomenon throughout Earth's myriad species, accounting for the
adaptive significance of alternative sexual systems. Accessible and
richly illustrated, the text maps the evolutionary origins of
hermaphroditism, as well as its historical instances and fictional
representations, underscoring the relevance of dual sexuality to
our biological, intellectual, and cultural making. John C. Avise
describes the genetics, ecology, phylogeny, and natural history of
hermaphroditic plants, fish, and invertebrate animals and details
organisms that either reproduce simultaneously as male and female
or switch routinely between one sex and the other. Filled with
surprising creatures and compelling revelations, this textbook
stands alone in its clear yet comprehensive treatment of
hermaphroditism and its unique challenge to the supremacy of
separate sexes.
