Do you believe it? The gender of turtles is determined by temperature!

Animals have both male and female, so who determines their gender? Some can autonomously switch, some are determined by ‘the King’, and some are determined by changes in weather. ‘Science Zoo’ presents you with the extraordinary secrets of animal gender!

The winner is ‘female’, the loser is ‘male’

We are not strangers to clownfish, but do you know that its gender is obtained through competition?

(A big and a small clownfish ‘couple’)

Just born clownfish are genderless, the largest in the group will win in competition and develop into female, and the one with the next largest body will become male. The most amazing thing is that once the female fish dies, the male fish can quickly transform into female.

(Gender obtained through competition clownfish ‘couple’)

What about the smaller ones? They will remain genderless until a male and female position is vacant, and the larger one has the opportunity to fill the position.

(Genderless juvenile clownfish)

The Queen Bee determines ‘male and female’ gender

Worker bees control the gender ratio

The Queen Bee is the highest status in the bee colony, it can precisely control the gender of its offspring. If it does not mate, it will produce eggs, which will develop into male; if it is combined with male bees, then the egg will develop into female. It can collect and store a large amount of sperm, and fertilize eggs for many years.

(The Queen Bee produces eggs of different genders based on the size of the egg chamber)

But how does the Queen Bee come into being? Besides being born in a designated location – the Queen’s Chamber – they eat bee royal jelly from childhood, possessing strong reproductive abilities. As for the taste of wild bee royal jelly, let the host tell you.

(Host Zhang Tengyue tastes wild bee royal jelly)

Weather determines gender animals

This is a pet whose gender is determined by the heavens: most turtles’ gender is determined by temperature. In a warmer environment, the hatchlings born are mostly female, and in a colder environment, mostly male.

(Turtle hatchling)

If the weather is like a baby's face, will the gender of the turtles in the egg change? During the first 1/3 of the incubation period, it will, but after this time, its gender will finally be determined.

(Introduction by:

Turtle gender fluctuates with temperature during initial incubation)

So does the gender of these turtles depend solely on climate? In fact, global warming has significantly increased the proportion of female sea turtles, but some studies also show that turtle embryos can move within the egg, and if there is a temperature difference on either side, it can also influence its own gender to some extent.

(Laboratory observation of turtle embryos in eggs)

More amazing knowledge about animal gender awaits you in ‘Science Zoo’!

Health reminder: Please wear masks, wash your hands frequently, ventilate frequently, and avoid crowded places.

Science Zoo

The Secret of Animal Gender

Broadcast time: April 11 20:10

Produced by: Yan Dong, Editor-in-Chief Liu Ming, Huang Lili, Editor: Zhang Lan, Wang Jin, Wang Lulu (Intern)

411 20:10

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