Medicinal Leech

Whitmania pigras

Leeches are protandric hermaphrodites, with the male reproductive organs, the testes, maturing first and the ovaries later. Sequential hermaphroditism is a type of hermaphroditism that occurs in many fish, gastropods, and plants. Sequential hermaphroditism occurs when the individual changes its sex at some point in its life. A sequential hermaphrodite produces eggs and sperm at different stages in life. Species that can undergo these changes from one sex to another do so usually cued by either social structure or the achievement of a certain age or size. 

Story contribution:

Oron Catts and Ionat Zurr
Tissue Culture & Art Project
SymbioticA, The Centre for Excellence in Biological Arts
School of Human Sciences + School of Design
The University of Western Australia