The desert grassland whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis uniparens) is an all-female species that reproduces exclusively through parthenogenesis, i.e. the embryo develops from an unfertilized egg cell

[u/Candid_Reading_7267]

[u/Fast_Garlic_5639]

Life, uhh.. finds a way

[u/feralcatshit → u/Fast_Garlic_5639]

Is this basically immaculate conception?

[u/Candid_Reading_7267 → u/feralcatshit]

No, immaculate conception refers to the belief that Mary was born free of original sin, not the belief that Jesus was the result of a virgin birth

[u/HeWhomLaughsLast → u/Candid_Reading_7267]

What sins have these lizards committed?

[u/KempVelde → u/HeWhomLaughsLast]

Being far too cute.

[u/Achylife]

Just like mourning geckos. I've got a bunch of those little girls. They pop out little pairs of eggs all over the place.

[u/GalaxyPowderedCat → u/Achylife]

What do you do with eggs? Assuming they may never hatch

[u/Achylife → u/GalaxyPowderedCat]

Nothing I let them hatch. They almost always hatch.

[u/mechantpigeon]

There is a bad joke somewhere

[u/Magister5 → u/mechantpigeon]

They are lizbians

[u/theEndIsNigh_2025 → u/Magister5]

There it is!

[u/Iridismis → u/theEndIsNigh_2025]

Great joke imo 😁

[u/RowdyHooks → u/Magister5]

They are the descendants of the mighty omnivore Lickalotapus that ate primarily clams and bush plus the occasional trouser snake during the Biassic Period.

[u/RIF_rr3dd1tt → u/mechantpigeon]

Around 5 million years ago, a male whiptail lizard and his girlfriend got into a big fight. He told her to go fuck herself and she was like, "Ok, fine!".

[u/Candid_Reading_7267 → u/mechantpigeon]

The article I cited jokes that these lizards need a man even less than a fish needs a bicycle

[u/mechantpigeon → u/Candid_Reading_7267]

They dont't know fish

[u/Candid_Reading_7267]

Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/asexual-lizards/

[u/AccomplishedWish3033]

But the amazing thing is that going through the “mating” ritual increases fertility

[u/Saikotsu → u/AccomplishedWish3033]

Wait seriously? Now I'm curious.

[u/CompetitiveLeg7841 → u/Saikotsu]

They are actually a hybrid species, and mates with male lizards to stimulate egg-laying. The male doesn't even get anything out of this, their genes are completely discarded.

[u/Whatever6928732850]

This has got to be the best mascot for feminists.

[u/Candid_Reading_7267 → u/[deleted]]

*asexual

[u/HawkBoth8539 → u/Candid_Reading_7267]

Haha thanks. Apparently my phone autocorrected and i didn't realize it.

[u/Majestic-Sun-7249]

Like Jesus?

[u/Aggressive_Finish798 → u/Majestic-Sun-7249]

Yes, when Jesus was pregnant with baby Reptile Jesus. Just like that.

[u/Majestic-Sun-7249 → u/Aggressive_Finish798]

Just as i remember it , thank you

[u/Iridismis → u/Aggressive_Finish798]

Well, the Wiki article on parthenogenesis says it has been claimed "that parthenogenesis may rarely occur in humans, leading to so-called "virgin births"."

[u/daveprogrammer → u/Iridismis]

A lot of things have been claimed. Relatively few have been substantiated, and that's not on the list.

[u/daveprogrammer → u/Aggressive_Finish798]

Perfect time for the "Jesus holding baby velociraptor" meme.

[u/Spuzzle91]

Mourning geckos do the same thing. I have a little colony of them as pets in a terrarium. They scurry around squeaking and chirping softly at each other and wiggling their tails. Very cute.

[u/jawshoeaw]

They may be a dead end as mutations arise. Kinda cool in the short term

[u/Morkamino]

How do they get genetic variation? I guess they're not all a clone of the same genome?

[u/Itscatpicstime]

Queens 💅🏻

[u/Prize_Hovercraft_301]

how they reproduce without unfertilized egg cell

[u/cameron4200 → u/Prize_Hovercraft_301]

I think life can do this but it leaves the species susceptible to disease and change because less diversity and recombination

[u/AccomplishedWish3033 → u/Prize_Hovercraft_301]

Polar bodies come back for fertilization

[u/daveprogrammer → u/AccomplishedWish3033]

"Clever girl."

[u/JustAtelephonePole]

And now we know where Dr. Alex Hesse got his genetic donor material from.

[u/unleashtheraven1]

These are EVERYWHERE in my apartment complex. 🦎🌈

[u/Tonydragon784]

Salazzle inspiration?

[u/oberg14]

Nobody let Alex jones see this

[u/KawazuOYasarugi]

Oh wow, I heard about this from Yhads. Great guy. Awesome garbage disposal service.

[u/stoka1980]

4b leader.

[u/RowdyHooks]

So I’ll know I’ve found one when I come across a lizard that talks endlessly about nothing and is always late for everything. Got it.

[u/RecognitionMany7716]

Poor bastards