Animals That Can Change Gender or Appearance

Clownfish live in groups where the largest male becomes female if the dominant female dies ensuring breeding continues.

Male giant Australian cuttlefish change color and pattern to look like females sneaking past dominant males to mate.

Parrotfish begin as females and transition to males with males displaying brighter colors to attract mates.

Bearded dragons reverse from genetic males to females when incubated above 32°C showing female traits and laying eggs.

Banana slugs have both male and female organs exchanging sperm with a partner to fertilize eggs mutually.

Moray eels switch from female to male when needed adjusting to social or environmental demands for reproduction.

Some goby species switch between male and female repeatedly adapting to mate availability in their habitat.

Slipper limpets change from male to female if they end up at the stack’s base ensuring both sexes for reproduction.

Female marsh harriers turn brown from grey resembling males possibly to avoid aggression from other females.

Kobudai (Asian sheepshead wrasse) females grow larger turn blue-green and become males dominating their groups.