Question

Which of the following is a hermaphrodite animal?
A. Elephant
B. Cow
C. Dog
D. Earthworm

Answer 1

Hint: The earthworm is a hermaphrodite because it contains both male and female reproductive organs. They bury eggs in the earth in capsules that are formed from secretions of the clitellum. These capsules protect the young until they hatch as worms. Earthworm being an hermaphrodite helps them to easily reproduce which is an excellent adaptation.

Complete answer:
> Option A is Elephant
Elephants are dimorphic mammals. It means that males can be twice the mass of a female. Also, secondary sexual characteristics between both sexes such tusk and skull size show dimorphism.

> Option B- Cow
A cow is referred to as a female that gives birth to a calf whereas a bull is a male that is able to breed. Male and female reproductive organs are separate, therefore, a cow is not a hermaphrodite.

> Option C- Dog
The dog is a domesticated carnivore which belongs to the family Canidae. It is not a hermaphrodite as male and female sex organs are present separately. Female dog is known as bitch.

> Option D- Earthworm
Earthworms are hermaphrodites because they contain both male and female sex organs. The male and female sex organs can produce both- sperm and egg respectively in each earthworm. Although earthworms are hermaphrodites, they still need a mate to reproduce.

Hence, The correct answer is option (D).

Note: Hermaphrodites may be sequentially or simultaneously male and female. Their mating system is determined to a large extent by the type of sexual system they experience. They can reproduce themselves also, in absence of a mate.
Examples of Hermaphrodites are earthworms, snails, hamlet fist, clown fish etc