What complex reproductive strategy is characteristic of the genus *Lepidophyma*, creating boundaries between distinct evolutionary lineages?
Answer
Existence of facultative or obligate parthenogenesis alongside sexual reproduction
The evolutionary interest in the genus *Lepidophyma* centers heavily on its reproductive duality. Certain populations engage in standard sexual reproduction, while others utilize parthenogenesis, which is asexual reproduction where females reproduce without mating, sometimes being facultative (optional) or obligate (required). This reproductive plasticity is a potent mechanism for evolutionary divergence. When parthenogenetic lineages, often triploid, become reproductively isolated from sexual diploid relatives due to incompatibility in producing fertile hybrids, this duality directly enforces species boundaries.
Related Questions
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