Hermaphroditism is the process of self-fertilization in an animal which possesses both male and female reproductive organs. Hermaphroditism occurs in harsh ocean conditions because of sexual selection. Sexual selection is the competition over a mate and ultimately helps to advance the species. Sexual selection leads to hermaphroditism in some marine animals because many species have a difficult time finding mates in the harsh ocean conditions. This benefits species living in harsh conditions because they are able to reproduce and further their species much more easily.

The clownfish is an example on an animal which uses this reproductive tactic. Clownfish are protandry sequential hermaphrodites, which means they are born as males, but are able to change into females during their life cycle. This helps to further the clownfish species as a whole by making reproduction a much easier process.

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Snails are also a species which uses hermaphroditism to its advantage. Snails are simultaneous hermaphrodites meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs at the same time. Use of this reproductive strategy allows snails to easily reproduce their species.

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Another marine species which uses this reproductive strategy is the hamlet. Hamlets do not self-fertilize, rather a pair of hamlets switch off who acts as the male and who the female. Hamlets are also simultaneous hermaphrodites. Hermaphroditism for hamlets must make the act of reproduction a much more interesting activity.

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