Parthenogenesis! Gila Spotted Whiptail Lizard!

[r0ss]

I see several different species of "Whiptail Lizard" out here.

One seems to be in this category:

www.nps.gov/tont/nature/whiptailgila.htm (http://www.nps.gov/tont/nature/whiptailgila.htm)

www.google.com/search?sou...enogenesis (http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=SNYC,SNYC:2004-13,SNYC:en&q=parthenogenesis)

Gila Spotted Whiptail
Sonoran Spotted Whiptail
Cnemidophorus flagellicaudus
Body length: 2 1/2 - 3 3/4 "
Diet: Termites, spiders, and other arthropods

These two whiptail species share an uncommon trait: parthenogenesis, or development of the young from unfertilized eggs.

There are no males in either species - only females!

Scientists are still not sure how these all-female whiptails originated, and how a number of separate but very similar species are related.

[r0ss]

parthenogenesis [Gr.,=virgin birth], in biology, a form of reproduction in which the ovum develops into a new individual without fertilization.

Natural parthenogenesis has been observed in many lower animals (it is characteristic of the rotifers), especially insects, e.g., the aphid.

In many social insects, such as the honeybee and the ant, the unfertilized eggs give rise to the male drones and the fertilized eggs to the female workers and queens.

The phenomenon of parthenogenesis was discovered in the 18th cent. by Charles Bonnet. In 1900, Jacques Loeb accomplished the first clear case of artificial parthenogenesis when he pricked unfertilized frog eggs with a needle and found that in some cases normal embryonic development ensued.

Artificial parthenogenesis has since been achieved in almost all major groups of animals, although it usually results in incomplete and abnormal development.

Numerous mechanical and chemical agents have been used to stimulate unfertilized eggs.

In 1936, Gregory Pincus induced parthenogenesis in mammalian (rabbit) eggs by temperature change and chemical agents.

No successful experiments with human parthenogenesis have been reported.

The phenomenon is rarer among plants (where it is called parthenocarpy) than among animals.

Unusual patterns of heredity can occur in parthenogenetic organisms. For example, offspring produced by some types are identical in all inherited respects to the mother.

[agogoboots]

Nevermind that other thread. I guess we don't really need you afterall. :jest :jest :jest

[r0ss]

Kick your man to the curb, ladys! Hell, kick all of us to the curb! Hahahahah

[GammaWaif]

Well, not all of you. Not yet. We haven't got the parthenogenesis bit nailed. We'll keep a couple fine breeder specimens in cages or something. :rofl3

[tekobari]

one of the great things about cucarachas is that the females are capable of it if they don't mate with a male during a specific time frame. they will produce about ten females each, who are also capable of producing ten females each, ad infinitum. cool.

[Heartland Antiques]

Tek, you're a weird bug person. :b

I'd like to have a couple of those lizards around here to control the spider population!

[BookMastered]

I would like some Whiptail Lizards to take care of the cucarachas!