1.Most animals reproduce sexually, although some species can reproduce asexually. Most commonly in sexual reproduction, male animals produce sperm and female animals produce eggs. Some animals, such as earth- worms, are hermaphrodites (hur MAF ruh dites), which produce both eggs and sperm in the same animal body. In general, hermaphrodites pro- duce eggs and sperm at different times, so another individual of the same species still is needed for sexual reproduction.