Yep. They basically have a social hierarchy where the dominant fish in a group is female. If the alpha female dies, then another female may become alpha, or a male will switch and become the alpha female. There are actually quite a few species where gender isn’t determined solely by genetics. So essentially when Coral died, in reality Marlin would’ve changed to a female. Just imagine the reaction of the conservatives had they been more scientifically accurate in that movie…
Are those the ones that basically convert based on what potential mates they run into?
Yep. They basically have a social hierarchy where the dominant fish in a group is female. If the alpha female dies, then another female may become alpha, or a male will switch and become the alpha female. There are actually quite a few species where gender isn’t determined solely by genetics. So essentially when Coral died, in reality Marlin would’ve changed to a female. Just imagine the reaction of the conservatives had they been more scientifically accurate in that movie…
If a male clownfish’s mate dies, the male will change sex and mate with its offspring to continue the family line.
Presumably why Marlin was so desperate to find Nemo.