How do the all-female *A. uniparens* and *A. neomexicanus* reproduce without fertilization?
Answer
Parthenogenesis
The Desert Grassland Whiptail (*A. uniparens*) and the New Mexico Whiptail (*A. neomexicanus*) are notable because their populations are composed entirely of females who reproduce asexually through a process known as parthenogenesis. This process involves the development of eggs without requiring any form of fertilization from a male. Specifically, *A. uniparens* is triploid, meaning it possesses three sets of homologous chromosomes, and its offspring are genetic clones of the mother, achieved through a mechanism involving chromosome doubling subsequent to meiosis. This asexual reproduction method allows for rapid colonization of new areas.
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