What specific behavior, involving female-on-female mounting, is thought necessary to trigger ovulation in parthenogenetic whiptails?
Answer
Pseudocopulation
Despite reproducing asexually through parthenogenesis, the all-female whiptails exhibit complex social behaviors that mirror courtship rituals found in sexually reproducing species. This behavior is termed pseudocopulation. It involves one female mounting another, often accompanied by biting and dominance displays between the individuals. This ritualized interaction is considered biologically critical because it is believed to induce the necessary hormonal changes within the female required to trigger ovulation and the subsequent process of laying eggs. Without this stimulus, egg development and laying might be inhibited.
Related Questions
What color is the tail of juvenile Desert Grassland Whiptail lizards upon hatching?How do the all-female *A. uniparens* and *A. neomexicanus* reproduce without fertilization?What invertebrate frequently constitutes the major component of the whiptail diet, sometimes up to 42.5%?What specific behavior, involving female-on-female mounting, is thought necessary to trigger ovulation in parthenogenetic whiptails?According to Lowe and Wright's proposal, which genus retained South American whiptail taxa after the split?What difference exists between the granular scales on a whiptail's upper body and the scales on its belly?What maximum running speed are some whiptail species capable of attaining, often using bipedal locomotion?How many distinct longitudinal stripes typically overlay the base coloration of the Desert Grassland Whiptail (*A. uniparens*)?What inherent conservation risk is linked to the asexual, clonal reproduction strategy of the *A. uniparens* population?In what two non-native geographical locations has the New Mexico Whiptail (*A. neomexicanus*) established populations?