Are there limitations to being a Metamorphmagi?

[MaraudersFTW]

I wish we got more info about Metamorphmagi but I always wondered what (if any) limitations there are to how much they can transform?

Are they restricted to their gender? Or can they change genders and if yes then are they really born as gender neutral than with a specific gender?

Well I guess I can answer the last question abit seeing as Teddy was born as a male but that doesn't really mean that he can't change genders, for all we know he could have wanted to greet the world as a boy.

Biologically, male and female are both of the same species so it really wouldn't be hard for a metamorphic to take on a different gender. I mean we've seen seen Tonks change her nose to that of a pig (a different species) so why can't she just change her privates to that of a male. What's stopping her?

That brings me question whether they can change their species or is it only limited to changing their noses, hands, feet etc to match of an animal?

This seems less likely to me seeings as they're both from different kingdoms in biology but then again we've seen her change her nose so what's stopping her going futher?


Another question is that can they de-age?

We've seen Tonks upgrade herself to an elderly in OOTP (assuming she used her metamorphic abilities and not potions) so it would seem logical to assume that she can de-age herself and if she can then isn't it possible that she can take on the look of a teen even at the age of 70? I'm not saying she's immortal here, I'm just she could have died as a 70 year old looking like a 17 year old

Seriously I'm just wondering is there any limitations to being to a metamorhmagi?

...and also poor Andy and Ted. Imagine going outside or during parties, to find your daughter/grandson changing their appearance when you turn around. They could be any child in a party ;D

[Ithiarel]

I always understood the powers of a metamorphmagus to be purely cosmetic.

I.e. while Tonks could make her nose look like that of a pig, it wouldn't have worked like one. She might make her nose look like a dog's nose, but it wouldn't enable her to actually track smell's better than she could as a human.

So, yeah, she might be able to look like a 17 year old when she's really 70. But inside, she'd still be 70 years old and her inner organs and bones would show that.

You could argue that it's the same with gender: she might be able to display a male gender, but that doesn't enable her body to sudenly create semen or even the appropriate hormones associated with a male.
And that would mean that a simple blood test could still determine if the metamorphmagus is male or female.

Since it seems more of a biological (inheritable) quirk than pure magic, I don't believe that a metamorphmagus can change their own DNA make-up. I also don't believe that he/she could change their body mass. So, no turning into a small bird and then being able to fly.
(She'd still need to be an animagus for that. As that is a purely magical and thus learnable talent.)