Clownfish can change sex during their life.

The clownfish is a protandric hermaphrodite, meaning it is born male and can become female during its lifetime if circumstances require. This remarkable transformation typically occurs when the dominant female of the group dies or disappears. The largest male in the group then changes sex and assumes the reproductive role of female, while a younger male gains the status of breeding male.

This flexible social organization system maximizes breeding chances within an anemone, where typically only a few individuals live. Sex change is controlled by hormonal and behavioral factors and is accompanied by visible somatic modifications. This innovative reproductive strategy allows the species to quickly adapt to the loss of its breeding members, thereby ensuring the survival and continuation of the group in a competitive reef environment.

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