#whiptaillizard

Past Photo Favorites - A New Mexico Whiptail Lizard. This whiptail, is female, in fact all of this species are female. “Several Species of Female whiptail lizards from the southwestern United States and Mexico, (including New Mexico Whiptails), are capable of producing viable offspring without the help of fertilization. In fact, they’re so good at it that the species consists only of females. No males are known to exist. The lizards (from the genus Aspidoscelis) reproduce via parthenogenesis, a process in which eggs develop into embryos without first being fertilized. Although the lizards reproduce asexually, the offspring are not clones and don’t always have the same chromosomes as their mother. This is because the eggs of the females start off with twice as many chromosomes as an individual that reproduces sexually; and, instead of pairing chromosomes, sister chromatids are combined to allow for recombination and genetic diversity. Scientists also believe that at some point in their history, whiptails mated with males of an entirely different species, resulting in hybridization and leading to genetic variation that is still beneficial to them today. But females still enjoy the companionship of other lizards. Despite the fact that the lizards don’t need a male partner, researchers have observed females engaging in mating behaviors with other females, which evidently enhances ovulation. This behavior, known as pseudo-copulation, is driven by progesterone and involves individuals switching between typical male and female sexual behaviors, depending on the state of their partner.” - Samantha Hartery in Roaring Earth #PastPhotoFavorites #Lizard #Lizards #NewMexicoWhiptail #WhiptailLizard #AllFemaleLizardSpecies #Naturalist #PhotoByJeriRae (at Santa Fe, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/CohlgJuubJM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Past Photo Favorites - A New Mexico Whiptail Lizard. (The lizards tail is even longer then in the photo) This whiptail, is female, in fact all of this species are female. “Several Species of Female whiptail lizards from the southwestern United States and Mexico, (including New Mexico Whiptails), are capable of producing viable offspring without the help of fertilization. In fact, they’re so good at it that the species consists only of females. No males are known to exist. The lizards (from the genus Aspidoscelis) reproduce via parthenogenesis, a process in which eggs develop into embryos without first being fertilized. Although the lizards reproduce asexually, the offspring are not clones and don’t always have the same chromosomes as their mother. This is because the eggs of the females start off with twice as many chromosomes as an individual that reproduces sexually; and, instead of pairing chromosomes, sister chromatids are combined to allow for recombination and genetic diversity. Scientists also believe that at some point in their history, whiptails mated with males of an entirely different species, resulting in hybridization and leading to genetic variation that is still beneficial to them today. But females still enjoy the companionship of other lizards. Despite the fact that the lizards don’t need a male partner, researchers have observed females engaging in mating behaviors with other females, which evidently enhances ovulation. This behavior, known as pseudo-copulation, is driven by progesterone and involves individuals switching between typical male and female sexual behaviors, depending on the state of their partner.” - Samantha Hartery in Roaring Earth #PastPhotoFavorites #Lizard #Lizards #NewMexicoWhiptail #WhiptailLizard #AllFemaleLizardSpecies #Naturalist #PhotoByJeriRae (at Santa Fe, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqZUlGrNNCl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Scenes From My Walk - Whiptail Lizard. Possible Species: - Plateau Striped Whiptail - Desert Grassland Whiptail - New Mexico Whiptail #ScenesFromMyWalk #WhiptailLizard #DesertGrasslandWhiptail #PlateauStripedWhiptail #NewMexicoWhiptail #Lizard #LizardsOfNewMexico #Naturalist #PhotoByJeriRae (at Agua Fria, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChVvqj3Lk9K/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Scenes From My Walk - Whiptail Lizard (second sighting- this lizard was bigger than the first one). Possible Species: - Plateau Striped Whiptail - Desert Grassland Whiptail - New Mexico Whiptail #ScenesFromMyWalk #WhiptailLizard #DesertGrasslandWhiptail #PlateauStripedWhiptail #NewMexicoWhiptail #Lizard #LizardsOfNewMexico #Naturalist #PhotoByJeriRae (at Agua Fria, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg-19P1KodK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Past Photo Favorites - A New Mexico Whiptail Lizard. This whiptail, is female, in fact all of this species are female. “Several Species of Female whiptail lizards from the southwestern United States and Mexico, (including New Mexico Whiptails), are capable of producing viable offspring without the help of fertilization. In fact, they’re so good at it that the species consists only of females. No males are known to exist. The lizards (from the genus Aspidoscelis) reproduce via parthenogenesis, a process in which eggs develop into embryos without first being fertilized. Although the lizards reproduce asexually, the offspring are not clones and don’t always have the same chromosomes as their mother. This is because the eggs of the females start off with twice as many chromosomes as an individual that reproduces sexually; and, instead of pairing chromosomes, sister chromatids are combined to allow for recombination and genetic diversity. Scientists also believe that at some point in their history, whiptails mated with males of an entirely different species, resulting in hybridization and leading to genetic variation that is still beneficial to them today. But females still enjoy the companionship of other lizards. Despite the fact that the lizards don’t need a male partner, researchers have observed females engaging in mating behaviors with other females, which evidently enhances ovulation. This behavior, known as pseudo-copulation, is driven by progesterone and involves individuals switching between typical male and female sexual behaviors, depending on the state of their partner.” - Samantha Hartery in Roaring Earth #PastPhotoFavorites #Lizard #Lizards #NewMexicoWhiptail #WhiptailLizard #AllFemaleLizardSpecies #Naturalist #PhotoByJeriRae (at Agua Fria, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnIOILXvUls/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Favorite Photos - New Mexico Whiptail Lizard An interesting lizard with a very long tail. Here’s some information from Alchetron.com: “The New Mexico whiptail (Cnemidophorus neomexicanus) is a female-only species of lizard found in the southern United States in New Mexico and Arizona, and in northern Mexico in Chihuahua. It is the official state reptile of New Mexico. It is one of many lizard species known to be parthenogenic. Individuals of the species can be created either through the hybridization of the little striped whiptail (C. inornatus) and the western whiptail (C. tigris), or through the parthenogenic reproduction of an adult New Mexico whiptail… Like most other whiptail lizards, the New Mexico whiptail is diurnal and insectivorous. They are wary, energetic, and fast moving, darting for cover if approached. They are found in a wide variety of semi-arid habitats, including grassland, rocky areas, shrubland, or mountainside woodlands. Reproduction occurs through parthenogenesis, with up to four unfertilized eggs being laid in mid summer, and hatching approximately eight weeks later… Despite reproducing asexually, and being an all-female species, the whiptail still engages in mating behavior with other females of its own species, giving rise to the common nickname "lesbian lizards". A common theory is that this behavior stimulates ovulation, as those who do not "mate" do not lay eggs.” - Alchetron.com #FavoritePhotos #NewMexicoWhiptail #WhiptailLizard #ReproducesThroughParthenogenesis #ParthenogeneticLizard #NewMexicoStateLizard #Lizards #Naturalist #PhotoByJeriRae (at Santa Fe, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClCOVZdPZ5I/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Scenes From My Walk - Young New Mexico Whiptail Lizard #ScenesFromMyWalk #Lizard #Lizards #NewMexicoWhiptail #WhiptailLizard #AllFemaleLizardSpecies Information for those who are new to this lizard: This whiptail, is female, in fact all of this species are female. “Several Species of Female whiptail lizards from the southwestern United States and Mexico, (including New Mexico Whiptails), are capable of producing viable offspring without the help of fertilization. In fact, they’re so good at it that the species consists only of females. No males are known to exist. The lizards (from the genus Aspidoscelis) reproduce via parthenogenesis, a process in which eggs develop into embryos without first being fertilized. Although the lizards reproduce asexually, the offspring are not clones and don’t always have the same chromosomes as their mother. This is because the eggs of the females start off with twice as many chromosomes as an individual that reproduces sexually; and, instead of pairing chromosomes, sister chromatids are combined to allow for recombination and genetic diversity. Scientists also believe that at some point in their history, whiptails mated with males of an entirely different species, resulting in hybridization and leading to genetic variation that is still beneficial to them today. But females still enjoy the companionship of other lizards. Despite the fact that the lizards don’t need a male partner, researchers have observed females engaging in mating behaviors with other females, which evidently enhances ovulation. This behavior, known as pseudo-copulation, is driven by progesterone and involves individuals switching between typical male and female sexual behaviors, depending on the state of their partner.” - Samantha Hartery in Roaring Earth (at Agua Fria, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiulLUkADMA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Scenes From My Walk - Young New Mexico Whiptail Lizard #ScenesFromMyWalk #Lizard #Lizards #NewMexicoWhiptail #WhiptailLizard #AllFemaleLizardSpecies Information for those who are new to this lizard: This whiptail, is female, in fact all of this species are female. “Several Species of Female whiptail lizards from the southwestern United States and Mexico, (including New Mexico Whiptails), are capable of producing viable offspring without the help of fertilization. In fact, they’re so good at it that the species consists only of females. No males are known to exist. The lizards (from the genus Aspidoscelis) reproduce via parthenogenesis, a process in which eggs develop into embryos without first being fertilized. Although the lizards reproduce asexually, the offspring are not clones and don’t always have the same chromosomes as their mother. This is because the eggs of the females start off with twice as many chromosomes as an individual that reproduces sexually; and, instead of pairing chromosomes, sister chromatids are combined to allow for recombination and genetic diversity. Scientists also believe that at some point in their history, whiptails mated with males of an entirely different species, resulting in hybridization and leading to genetic variation that is still beneficial to them today. But females still enjoy the companionship of other lizards. Despite the fact that the lizards don’t need a male partner, researchers have observed females engaging in mating behaviors with other females, which evidently enhances ovulation. This behavior, known as pseudo-copulation, is driven by progesterone and involves individuals switching between typical male and female sexual behaviors, depending on the state of their partner.” - Samantha Hartery in Roaring Earth (at Agua Fria, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiiFFcyL26f/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=