Here's a breakdown:
* Proto: Means "first" or "primary".
* Gynous: Refers to the female reproductive system.
Therefore, protogynous literally translates to "female first".
Examples:
* In plants: Some flowering plants are protogynous. This means that their stigma (the female part that receives pollen) matures before the anthers (the male parts that produce pollen) become active. This helps prevent self-pollination.
* In animals: Some fish and mollusks are protogynous. In these species, individuals start their lives as females and later transition to males. This can be influenced by factors like age, size, or social hierarchy.
Opposite of Protogynous:
The opposite of protogynous is protandrous. This refers to species where the male reproductive organs mature first.