#desert grasslands whiptail lizard

[fatchance]

Desert grasslands whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis uniparens), at San Pedro House. Like the related Sonoran spotted whiptail in the same genus, desert grasslands whiptails are an entirely female species, and all reproduction is by parthenogenesis.

Etymology note: Aspidoscelis is derived from Ancient Greek words meaning shield leg, and the specific uniparens – forgive the pun, it is intentional – should be apparent.

[cypherdecypher]

Animal of the Day!

Desert Grassland Whiptail Lizard (Aspidoscelis uniparens)

(Photo from Toronto Zoo)

Conservation Status- Least Concern

Habitat- Northern Central America; Southwestern United States

Size (Weight/Length)- 13 cm

Diet- Insects

Cool Facts- The desert grassland whiptail lizard woke up one day and decided that men were unnecessary in their lives. Every single one of these lizards you see are females and almost genetically identical to each other. The whiptails are capable of parthenogenesis, meaning they can have clone babies without a male. The easiest way to identify the age of the lizard can be found on their tail. The younger they are, the bluer their tail. This helps younger lizards escape predators as the bright color is attractive, making a bird go after their tail rather than their head. When their tail is attacked, the desert grassland whiptail lizard drops its tail and runs away. After a few months, the tail regrows and the lizard lives on.

Rating- 12/10 (Creating a lesbian army to conquer the world.)

Requested by @v-spicata

[giantroboticplatypusbutt218]

This isn't correct. This post is from 2015 and OP has said in the comments that they were wrong and have since learned more about biology.

Agemetic reproduction is just a term that covers all types of asexual reproduction that doesn't involve gametes. There are also asexually reproducing species that do use gametes to reproduce, but they don't require gametes from another individual of the species to form offspring. This means "agemetic" isn't a replacement for "asexual", it's just a category of it.

Also, words can have multiple meanings. We don't need a new scientific word for "asexual" just because "asexual" is also used for human sexuality, the same way we don't need a new scientific word for "fruit" just because "fruit" has a different culinary definition. A-Sexual can mean both "Without-Sexual (reproduction)" and "Without-Sexual (attraction)".

Lastly, the people going "Asexual? So what you're a sponge?" aren't going to suddenly stop being assholes if "asexual" is no longer used to describe asexually reproducing species; The thing they care most about is insulting you. They're not being pedantic, they're being pricks.

so apparently “asexual reproduction” is no longer the preferred scientific term, so if anyone makes a sponge joke or whatever just scream “IT’S AGAMETIC KNOW YOUR SCIENCE” and throw a textbook at them

[adharagranley-writer]

Topic of the day: lesbian lizards.

There's a species of lizards that are entirely female (they really said no boys today honey) living in North America and Mexico. So how do they make baby lizards without males?

They reproduce by parthenogenesis (and are one of the few if not the only species of animal to reproduce only by this method). Parthenogenesis is a reproduction form where the female sexual cells develop without the masculine ones (eggs undergo a chromosome doubling after meiosis, developing into lizards without being fertilized), and it can happen in insects, birds, fishes and reptiles.

The desert grassland whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis uniparens) does this, but! The ovulation is enhanced by female-female courtship and mating (pseudo-copulation) rituals that resemble the behavior other lizards that reproduce sexually.

So they are the absolute only-female lesbian queens.

[h2llish]

take my hand ˖ mutual list part two cause there's a lot of you

mooties can i send you flowers

【 ❝ a kingfisher! (a bird) ✧„ ── @peachystea 】

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀✧ ── ⁀➷ ( 🌺 peachy ! )

【 ❝ the swallow bird ✧„ ── @kinvasions 】

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀✧ ── ⁀➷ ( ☃ ni ! )

【 ❝ desert grassland whiptail lizard.. wow long name ✧„ ── @iorilvr 】

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀✧ ── ⁀➷ ( ♠ spade ! )

【 ❝ common guitarfish ✧„ ── @simonisferal 】

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀✧ ── ⁀➷ ( ☾ simon ! )

【 ❝ a panamic cushion star (it's a starfish!) ✧„ ── @eutopiastar 】

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀✧ ── ⁀➷ ( ❁ lena ! )

【 ❝ they're back!! an iguana who shares custody of edie ✧„ ── @the-clockwork-fiend 】

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀✧ ── ⁀➷ ( ➺ ferris ! )

【 ❝ a porcupine✧„ ── @driftwoodmanor 】

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀✧ ── ⁀➷ ( ✵ asta ! )

【 ❝ a prairie dog ✧„ ── @whoooismkeee 】

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀✧ ── ⁀➷ ( ✱ rem ! )

【 ❝ bird of paradise ✧„ ── @l-seleene-l 】

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀✧ ── ⁀➷ ( ও seleene ! )

【 ❝ a african wild cat. cute but deadly! ✧„ ── @french-fryyyy 】

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀✧ ── ⁀➷ ( ⑆ fry ! )

【 ❝ a flamingo seemed most fitting! ✧„ ── @velsbels 】

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀✧ ── ⁀➷ ( 🍓vel ! )

【 ❝ an iceland gull! ✧„ ── @rainesol 】

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀✧ ── ⁀➷ ( ☂ rain ! )

【 ❝ a marsh deer! ✧„ ── @burningburningburnt 】 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀✧ ── ⁀➷ ( ♗ kaméno ! )

[oldfacesnewdawnoffical]

Rain is like a desert grassland whiptail lizard they reproduce asexually like rain

✨Indeed✨

[beebuus]

ok so there are phantoms of lesbians whispering to know more, and i shall provide.

the desert grassland whiptail lizard, species Aspidoscelis uniparens, is a very interesting little gal, as they do parthenogenesis (a common in lesbian species), where the egg does a chromosome doubling right after it would be considered "possible to be fertilized". however, there are many species of animals that do parthenogenesis, so that alone can't really be a indicator of lesbian species, only species that do not require males to reproduce (anti-male? bioessentialist radfems? i digress)

no, these little girlies do something beyond; they have higher rates of ovulation when they court and mate with other females (science classifies it as pseudo-copulation, as there is no fertilization of eggs), and their "role" in courtship is driven by their progesterone levels (besides being lesbians, there are butch and femme lizards, but they're pratically more futch most of the time)

lookadis beautiful lady

i just had the idea of making posts about lesbians of the animal world each day of lesbian visibility week, EXCEPT NOW the week has ended, and therefore all lesbians have to seize existence. very unfortunate :(

i would however elaborate, if only there was a large sum of were-lesbians asking me to do so..... oh but the misery of this not being so, how very unfortunate.

[bathe-in-dragons-light]

Are you a desert grassland whiptail lizard? They are my favourite lizards :)

I believe my great ancestors were greater short-horned lizards.

And before you ask, I can shoot blood from my eyes.

[my-chemical-rot]

I love desert grassland whiptail lizards. Yuri wins <3

[cypherdecypher]

I love your posts, they are real comfy and interesting. Could I nominate a relatively obscure but interesting critter in honour of pride month? Aspidoscelis uniparens, the Desert Grassland Whiptail Lizard is entirely composed of lesbians.

I actually went hiking the other day and the weather was perfect for spotting desert grassland whiptails! I probably saw several dozen that were easily bigger than my hand. Super cool lizard and I'll add them to the list!

[al-perthe]

ALSO! Don't forget about whiptail lizards! A lot of the species (such as New Mexico and desert grassland) are exclusively female. They reproduce via parthenogenesis BUT notably have more success when they engage in mating behaviors, earning the nickname "lesbian lizards"

So LGBTQ+ dinosaurs all around!

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Taking Note of the New Mexico Whiptail

The New Mexico Whiptail (Aspidoscelis neomexicanus) is the state lizard of New Mexico in the United States of America, and for good reason. These beautifully patterned lizards are incredibly unique because the entire species is female, and they reproduce via parthenogenesis.

Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction in which in embryos develop without sperm. It’s found in plants, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and several bird species. Offspring are full clones of their mother. New Mexico whiptails can also be produced as a cross of western whiptails and little striped whiptails. All reproduction occurs during the summer. To produce eggs asexually, female New Mexico whiptails engage in mating behavior with each other, in which one female will lay on top of each other. Afterwards, a female will lay up to four eggs. The eggs hatch two months later, fully formed and independent.

New Mexico whiptails can be distinguished from other lizard species by the seven yellow stripes along their back and their dotted sides. Individuals can be anywhere from 6.5 to 23 cm, with a tail about as long as their body that is a distinct blue-green during the juvenile stage.

Outside mating, A. neomexicanus is a solitary lizard. They spend most of the day hiding from predators, thermoregulating, or foraging for food. They feed on insects, and are often seen digging in the dirt. If threatened, New Mexico Whiptails can move extremely quickly, even running on their hind legs to escape. Common predators include hawks, road runners, owls, and desert foxes. During the winter, these lizards will burrow into the ground and hibernate.

Conservation status: The IUCN lists the New Mexico whiptail as Least Concern. The lizard is protected as New Mexico’s state reptile, and populations are stable. Their primary threat is habitat loss.

[fatchance]

Desert grassland whiptail (Aspidoscelis uniparens), with a bonus close crop. At Fairbank Townsite, San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, Cochise County, Arizona. 

[pandagirl45]

They did what those lizards in the all female colony does.

I think the image said Desert Grassland Whiptail.

[typhlonectes]

Desert Grassland Whiptail Lizard (Aspidoscelis uniparensoften), Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, USA

photograph via: National Park Service

[i-m-snek]

Big Momma whiptail and what I believe to be one of her daughters from last year-eating a female sun spider! o.o