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New Mexico whiptail lizard: Difference between revisions
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== Life Cycle == | == Life Cycle == | ||
[[Image: Whiptail.jpg|thumb|150px|left]] | [[Image: Whiptail.jpg|thumb|150px|left]] | ||
The New Mexico Whiptail lizard cannot sexually reproduce because they are all females.<ref name=Hiskey>Hiskey, D. [http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2011/05/the-new-mexico-whiptail-lizard-is-made-up-entirely-of-females/ New Mexico Whiptail Lizards are All Females] ''Today I Found Out''. Web. Accessed February 4, 2015.</ref> <ref name=WikiTail/> | The New Mexico Whiptail lizard cannot sexually reproduce because they are all females.<ref name=Hiskey>Hiskey, D. [http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2011/05/the-new-mexico-whiptail-lizard-is-made-up-entirely-of-females/ New Mexico Whiptail Lizards are All Females] ''Today I Found Out''. Web. Accessed February 4, 2015.</ref> <ref name=WikiTail/> <ref name=lizardm/> <ref name=State_Symbols/>. However, these lizards, simulate reproduction by way of pseudocopulation (which is when they act out sexual intercourse). The whiptails of the genus Aspidocelis [5,6] are lizards, created by a hybridization of the western whiptail (A. Inornatus) <ref name=lizardm/> <ref name=State_Symbols/> and the little striped whiptail (A. tigris). Generally, crossbred species (like the mule) are typically sterile. However, the New Mexico Whiptail reproduces by a complex series of events (that appear like cloning) where it's eggs require no fertilization, and its offspring are nearly a genetic duplicate of the mother.<ref name=Hiskey/>[5, 6] | ||
An interesting fact that is a part of the process: two females will act out having sex as if one was a male. This is believed to increase the fertility of these lizards as it assists in producing more eggs than in females who don’t go through this act. The lizard who acts in the traditional female role assumes an inferior position while the other female lizard who assumes a superior position (hence the term pseudocopulation). Remarkably, the Whiptail lizards who assume the "female role" end up producing larger eggs than the lizard acting out the male role.<ref name=Hiskey/> | An interesting fact that is a part of the process: two females will act out having sex as if one was a male. This is believed to increase the fertility of these lizards as it assists in producing more eggs than in females who don’t go through this act. The lizard who acts in the traditional female role assumes an inferior position while the other female lizard who assumes a superior position (hence the term pseudocopulation). Remarkably, the Whiptail lizards who assume the "female role" end up producing larger eggs than the lizard acting out the male role.<ref name=Hiskey/> | ||
This hybrid species, reproduces by laying eggs that have never encountered any sperm[5,6]. No external fertilization occurs <ref name=WikiTail/> | This hybrid species, reproduces by laying eggs that have never encountered any sperm[5,6]. No external fertilization occurs <ref name=WikiTail/> <ref name=lizardm/> as a result of two closely related species mated to create asexual hybrids. [5,6]. This phenomenon shouldn’t work . | ||
Previously reptile researchers believed that the unfertilized eggs and hatchlings were clones of their mothers <ref name=WikiTail/> | Previously reptile researchers believed that the unfertilized eggs and hatchlings were clones of their mothers <ref name=WikiTail/> <ref name=lizardm/> <ref name=State_Symbols/>. However, this has now been disproven. The internal self- fertilization that does occur, does NOT produce perfect offspring clones. Recent research by doctoral student Aracely Lutes at Baumann Lab demonstrated that the New Mexico Whiptail lizard produces two times the number of chromosomes as other types of Whiptail lizards which mate normally. Lutes discovered that, this occurs as a result of a " process of recombination of these chromosomes, somewhat similar to what happens in normal male/female pairings, which then produces genetically diverse offspring."<ref name=Hiskey/> | ||
Generally, sperm and egg cells are created through a process called meiosis, (where a cell’s chromosomes are copied before the cell divides twice). This produces four daughter cells, meaning that the egg cells only contain half the amount of chromosomes of other cells. The joining of egg and sperm, that contain half the genes, this helps balance out the chromosomes, to create the next generation [5,6]. | Generally, sperm and egg cells are created through a process called meiosis, (where a cell’s chromosomes are copied before the cell divides twice). This produces four daughter cells, meaning that the egg cells only contain half the amount of chromosomes of other cells. The joining of egg and sperm, that contain half the genes, this helps balance out the chromosomes, to create the next generation [5,6]. | ||
