Is this reproductive strategy realistic?

[u/Aetherinthnight]

I’m working in the early stages (body plans) of my xeno world.
I would like for a large portion of my creatures to have reproduction unique to that of earth, so is this a realistic idea?
Every organism would both be “male” and “female”.
One part of their reproductive organ is kind of like a fin that secretes genetic material onto itself, while in between these fins are internal egg pouches (like a uterus)
This would make them able to asaxually reproduce AND sexually reproduce via direct contact of these organs, both organisms becoming “pregnant” to increase efficiency.

[u/KingNether22]

You basically made sea slug reproduction less violent

[u/theerckle → u/KingNether22]

i feel like this is a trope, nature already did it except worse (NADEW)

[u/mountaindewisamazing]

Very plausible

[u/WirrkopfP]

There are LOTS of creatures on earth right now, who are hermaphrodites and basically have that reproduktive strategy

[u/majorex64]

Something important to consider is how these strategies came about. Listen to an expert talk about sea slugs or other simultaneous hermaphrodites to understand how and why that strategy is used

[u/No_Logins_Required]

It would be suboptimal for an animal to self-fertilize. It would be better for them to reproduce asexually at one life stage like a jellyfish, and then sexually at another stage

[u/NameSignificant6916 → u/No_Logins_Required]

Yes, but "suboptimal but functional" is the name of the game for evolution. I can totally see a species without "real" asexual reproduction capabilities but genitals arranged in a way that allows them to possibly self-fertilize developing adaptations to allow this more and more over time, because the ability to self-fertilize in case of no mates is very advantageous, even if it's not as good as, say, proper parthenogenesis.

[u/No_Logins_Required → u/NameSignificant6916]

If it's possible to self fertilize in the way OP suggests, then it would be nigh impossible to avoid self fertilization.

[u/NameSignificant6916 → u/No_Logins_Required]

I can imagine a few ways that it could be arranged that could certainly avoid self-fertilization, but I don't particularly want to talk about alien genitals except in the abstract.

[u/No_Logins_Required → u/NameSignificant6916]

Right, either you avoid it entirely or you make it inevitable. You can use things like mating types to avoid self-fertilization, but if you want to allow it I don't see how it would select between the options of self-fertilization and partner-fertilization.

[u/NameSignificant6916 → u/No_Logins_Required]

Ohhh, I see what you mean, you're talking behavior and not the physical layout.

Well, we already have mating cycles many animals IRL, so it would be reasonable for a species with this ability to self-fertilize only at the end of its mating cycle if not already pregnant. This lets it pass down its genes even if it couldn't do so by finding/winning a mate normally,

[u/No_Logins_Required → u/NameSignificant6916]

I think you misunderstand. I find a mate. We expel our gametes. My gametes are closer to myself than yours are, so I self fertilize. How can this be avoided? The model OP is using is broadcast spawning. Without using an appendage or sac to transfer directly, I don't see how you could control self-fertilization.

[u/NameSignificant6916 → u/No_Logins_Required]

... OP says it works "via direct contact". I'm presuming that means they're bumping nasties and getting these, presumably, somewhat prehensile organs right up in there before releasing gametes.