What type of marine animal is always born male but has the ability to change into a female later in life?
Eel
Clownfish
Jellyfish
Seahorse
Fact: Clownfish are born male but can transition into females later in life through a process called sequential hermaphroditism. In a clownfish colony, the largest and most dominant individual is always female, while the next largest is the breeding male. If the female dies or is removed, the breeding male undergoes a biological transformation, becoming female to maintain the reproductive hierarchy within the colony, ensuring the species’ survival. This process involves complex hormonal changes that permanently alter the fish’s sex. Once a clownfish becomes female, it cannot revert to being male.
Correct Answer: Clownfish