Hermaphroditism

the long version

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. The book traces the phenomenon throughout Earth's myriad species, accounting for the adaptive significance of alternative sexual systems. 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.