Male Parasitism
"In a world where finding a mate is no small feat, some Anglerfishes have evolved an extraordinary strategy. The tiny male angler searches for a female by smell, then bites into her and becomes permanently attached. Eventually his month fuses to her body, his gut degenerates, his blood vessels merge with hers and he becomes little more than an attached sperm sac available at any time to fertilize her eggs. In some species females have several males embedded in their bodies"
-we talked in class today about differences in race/gender/genetics/cultures/everything-
For angler fish, the roles seem pretty distinct.
enjoy.
doesn't it seem like this is a perfect example of how lines are never clear? what sex is the creature after the male merges with the female? a hybrid? a female with sperm? very interesting....
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