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.
