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New Mexico whiptail lizard: Difference between revisions
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'''New Mexico whiptail lizard''' is a species of [[lizard]] known by the scientific name '''''Cnemidophorus neomexicanus'''''. They are perhaps best known as an ''all female'' species that relies strictly on auto-reproduction (parthenogenesis, which is the development of an egg without fertilization). They get their name from their long, whiplike tails.<ref name=State_Symbols>[http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/New_Mexico/reptilewhiptaillizard.html New Mexico Whiptail Lizard] ''State Symbols USA''. Web. Accessed February 4, 2015. Unknown Author.</ref> | '''New Mexico whiptail lizard''' is a species of [[lizard]] known by the scientific name '''''Cnemidophorus neomexicanus'''''. They are perhaps best known as an ''all female'' species that relies strictly on auto-reproduction (parthenogenesis, which is the development of an egg without fertilization). They get their name from their long, whiplike tails.<ref name=State_Symbols>[http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/New_Mexico/reptilewhiptaillizard.html New Mexico Whiptail Lizard] ''State Symbols USA''. Web. Accessed February 4, 2015. Unknown Author.</ref> | ||
It is found in the Southern United States (Arizona and New Mexico) and parts of northern Mexico ( | It is found in the Southern United States (Arizona and New Mexico) and parts of northern Mexico (Chihuahua)<ref name=WikiTail> [http://www.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico_whiptail New Mexico whiptail] “Wikipedia”. Web. Accessed January 27, 2015. Unknown Author. </ref>. They were made the official state reptile of New Mexico in 2003.<ref name=State_Symbols/> Prior to 1998, the whiptail lizard had not been known to occur in Arizona. Discovery of this unique and small population occurred near the Puerco Ruins at Petrified Forest National Park <ref name=lizardm> Brennan, Thomas. [http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Lizards-Subpages/h-a-neomexicana.html New Mexico Whiptail] ''The Reptiles and Amphibians of Arizona''. Web. January 27, 2015.</ref>. | ||
== Body Design == | == Body Design == | ||
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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 <ref name=YE/> <ref name=nature/> . No external fertilization occurs <ref name=WikiTail/> <ref name=lizardm/> as a result of two closely related species mated to create asexual hybrids. <ref name=YE/> <ref name=nature/> . This phenomenon shouldn’t work . | This hybrid species, reproduces by laying eggs that have never encountered any sperm <ref name=YE/> <ref name=nature/> . No external fertilization occurs <ref name=WikiTail/> <ref name=lizardm/> as a result of two closely related species mated to create asexual hybrids. <ref name=YE/> <ref name=nature/> . This phenomenon shouldn’t work . | ||
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 | 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 disproved. 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 <ref name=YE/><ref name=nature/>. | 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 <ref name=YE/><ref name=nature/>. | ||
