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Hermaphrodite

A hermaphrodite is an organism possessing both male and female sexual organs. This means that when two individuals of a hermaphroditic species encounter each other they can mate and produce viable offspring. Many slugs and snails are hermaphrodites.

Reproduction in hermaphrodites should not be confused with a reproduction by parthenogenesis. Parthenogenesis occurs when a female can produce viable offspring without mating. Hermaphrodites must mate to reproduce but can mate with any other individual of the same species since they are both male and female.

A close-up portrait of the Giant African Land Snail

Snails, like the Giant African Land Snail (Achatina fulica), are hermaphrodites.

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