Parthenogenesis is an asexual form of reproduction found in females where growth and development of embryos or seeds occurs without fertilization by a male; the development of an individual from an egg without fertilization.
On 21st May 2006, Flora, a female Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) at Chester Zoo laid eleven eggs. It was a big surprise when these eggs turned out to be fertile since Flora had never been with a male Komodo Dragon. This is one of the 'babies' at the age of three.
DNA-testing at Liverpool University showed that Flora was the mother AND the father.
The effort of being a Mum and Dad!
Other lizard species are known to be able to reproduce by parthenogenesis but this was the first time it had been seen in Komodo Dragons.
Is that true of the Dad as well? Perhaps a silly question, but ...
ReplyDeleteNot a silly question at all. And I'm not sure of the answer. From what I've read it seems the male cannot turn female but I couldn't guarantee that. Another example of us males not being as clever as we thought!
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