Desert Grassland Whiptail Lizard.

Desert Grassland Whiptail Lizard

The desert grassland whiptail is an all female lizard species that reproduces exclusively by parthenogenesis.

Desert Grassland Whiptail Lizard.

Desert grassland whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis uniparens), Toronto Zoo.

Originally a hybrid between two other species the desert grassland whiptail has three sets of chromosomes (triploid) and has only females. The eggs develop without fertilization from a male but the females engage in sexual behavior with each-other and even perform a sort of pseudocopulation which results in greater number of offspring, in spite of the fact that no genetic material is exchanged.

Desert grassland whiptail lizards.

Desert grassland whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis uniparens), Toronto Zoo.
The much bigger lizard partially seen in the picture is a chuckwalla.

Desert grassland whiptails are native to the southern United States and Mexico.

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Last updated: October 12, 2015

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