Jun 09, 20 komodo dragons are the worlds largest living lizards. This is due to a process of asexual reproduction known as parthenogenesis. While maleproducing parthenogenesis is rare, femaleproducing parthenogenesis is widespread among. Jon henley on the komodo dragon environment the guardian. The komodo dragon, the largest species of lizard now alive, can grow to 10 feet long and nearly 200 pounds. Oct, 2009 s very own nate nelson flexes his day job expertise for the history channel regarding the worlds first virgin birth of komodo dragons outside of england. Parthenogenesis decreases genetic diversity gene pool is shallow enough already parthenogenetic offspring are universally male in komodos at least leads to further gene reduction x x meiotic formation of gametes z w meiotic formation of gametes females wz males zz x x typical parthenogenetic formation of gametes x x x x x x x x x x z w. It is estimated that only 4000 komodo dragons remain in the wild, of which perhaps fewer than are mature females. Parthenogenesis is a mode of asexual reproduction in which offspring are produced by females. A case has been documented of a komodo dragon reproducing via sexual reproduction after a known. Question 8 select the correct statement a the offspring would. An explicit demand to generate and test hypotheses that could explain the given example of dragon. Feb 10, 2008 wichita, ks sedgwick county zoo has become the first zoo in the americas to document that komodo dragons are capable of parthenogenesis reproduction without the contribution of a male.
Parthenogenesis is a way to avoid the temperature problem with spermatogenesis and to produce several generations a year, as in the case of t. This lady komodo dragon lizard can reproduce without a mate. Despite having only a mother, the offspring are not clones. Komodo dragons may try to swallow faster by running and pushing the dead animal in its mouth very hard against a tree. Komodo dragon download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Female komodo dragon has virgin births live science. It lives only on komodo and a few other islands in indonesia. Parthenogenesis in wild komodo dragons could be adaptive, given that viable offspring are always male and that sexual reproduction can resume, albeit.
Figure 1 hatching of a komodo dragon varanus komodoensis from an egg produced asexually. Wichita, ks sedgwick county zoo has become the first zoo in the americas to document that komodo dragons are capable of parthenogenesis reproduction without the contribution of a. Watts pc1, buley kr, sanderson s, boardman w, ciofi c, gibson r. The komodo dragon, a member of the monitor family, is the largest lizard in the world. Dec 21, 2006 this file presents full details of 1 the movements and reproductive histories of the two female komodo dragons flora and sungai that produced parthenogenetic offspring, 2 the methods used.
Komodo dragons by julie murray overdrive rakuten overdrive. Fascinating images accompany information about the komodo dragon. The egg from the female carries one chromosome, either a w or z, and when parthenogenesis takes place, either the w or z is duplicated. This is normally between the months of may to august. This confirmed that both clutches were produced by parthenogenesis, the production of offspring without fertilisation by a male.
Parthenogenesis in wild komodo dragons could be adaptive, given that viable offspring are always. Some species are able to employ extreme methods like that of parthenogenesis, wherein the female produces offspring without fertilisation, as seen in komodo dragons varanus komodoensis, cereal. Seven things you didnt know about the komodo dragon bbc. Pdf parthenogenesis, the production of offspring without fertilization by a male, is rare in vertebrate. Identifier komododragon scanner internet archive html5 uploader 1. Widespread knowledge came after 1912, in which peter ouwens, the director of the zoological museum at bogor, java, published a paper on the topic. A table of contents, a glossary with phonetic spellings, and an index are included. Komodo dragon qfiles the online library of knowledge. Komodo dragons are capable of bringing down prey as large as deer. This file presents full details of 1 the movements and reproductive histories of the two female komodo dragons flora and sungai that produced parthenogenetic offspring, 2 the methods used. In automixic parthenogenesis, the ovum is fertilized by one of the polar bodies, resulting in a diploid zygote. Parthenogenesis has never been documented in komodo dragons before now, so this is absolutely a world first, said coresearcher kevin buley of chester zoo. They would have been a great candidate for the inspiration behind the mythical dragons.
The resulting offspring will be a halfclone of the mother. If the file has been modified from its original state, some details such as the timestamp may not fully reflect those of the original file. Komodo dragons make much saliva to help the food move easily, but swallowing still takes a long time 1520 minutes to swallow a goat. Theyve analyzed the genetics of the eggs that have failed to develop the remainder are expected to hatch in january and determined that they were definitely produced without the aid of a male. Dec 28, 2006 biologists have known that some lizards can engage in parthenogenesis, but nonetheless seeing it among komodo dragons surprised zookeepers. They grow to lengths of between 2 metres and 3 metres 7ft10ft, weigh up to 68kg 150lbs, and live for up. Dec 20, 2006 parthenogenesis has never been documented in komodo dragons before now, so this is absolutely a world first, said coresearcher kevin buley of chester zoo. How did parthenogenesis occur in the komodo dragon. This file contains additional information such as exif metadata which may have been added by the digital camera, scanner, or software program used to create or digitize it. After its death in 1933 it was stuffed and is now held at tilden regional park in berkely, california for all to see and be amazed. The komodo dragon was first documented in 1910 by lieutenant van steyn van hensbroek who went to komodo island after hearing stories about giant lizards.
This means that a single female dragon can create an entirely new colony without a mate. A map highlights komodo dragon territory, fun facts appear throughout, and the book closes with a full page of kidfriendly komodo dragon facts. In all instances, females had long been removed from the wild or were captive bred. Ouwens, director of the zoological museum and botanical garden at bogor, java, who eventually determined that the. In fact, the majority of vertebrates, such as varanid lizards, elasmobranch fishes and boa and python snakes, exhibit facultative parthenogenesis watts et al.
This file presents full details of 1 the movements and reproductive histories of the two female komodo dragons flora and sungai that produced parthenogenetic offspring, 2. Parthenogenesis, the production of offspring without fertilization by a male, is rare in vertebrate species, which usually reproduce after fusion of. Week 11 sex and the komodo dragonfull sex and the komodo. Charlie, a female komodo dragon at the chattanooga zoo in. Parthenogenesis, the production of offspring without fertilization by a male, is rare in vertebrate species, which usually reproduce after. The komodo dragon varanus komodoensis, also known as the komodo monitor, is a species of lizard found in the indonesian islands of komodo, rinca, flores, and gili motang. This view began to shift with reports of fp in snakes 3,4,6,7,1012, lizards, including the endangered komodo dragon and sharks,14. A haploid cell formed by meiosis i fused with the first polar body to yield a diploid egg c. In 1980 the komodo national park was founded to help protect their population. Here we use genetic fingerprinting to identify parthenogenetic offspring produced by two female komodo dragons varanus komodoensis that.
They grow to lengths of between 2 metres and 3 metres 7ft10ft, weigh up to 68kg 150lbs, and live for up to 50 years. The first account of parthenogenesis in the literature is the prophecy of. Sometimes a lizard hits the tree so hard that it gets knocked out. The komodo dragon, as befits any creature evoking a mythological beast, has many names. Komodo dragons have thrived in the harsh climate of indonesias lesser sunda islands for millions of years. Komodo dragons are the worlds largest living lizards. In animals, parthenogenesis means development of an embryo from an unfertilized egg cell. Facultative parthenogenesis discovered in wild vertebrates. A komodo dragon with no male partner gave birth to three hatchlings.
Bbc news sciencenature virgin births for giant lizards. Parthenogenesis in wild komodo dragons could be adaptive, given that viable offspring are always male and that sexual reproduction can resume, albeit between related individuals, in a colony founded by a single unfertilized female. Furthermore, offspring reproduced by this process can only be male. This title will leave readers with a deeper appreciation of the continent of asia and the incredible komodo dragon.
Fewer than 4,000 komodo dragons remain in the wild, of which perhaps fewer. This is the first time that this reproductive strategy has been recorded in komodo dragons. Reaching 10 feet in length and more than 300 pounds, komodo dragons are the heaviest. More recently the komodo dragon varanus komodoensis has also been found to have the ability to reproduce by parthenogenesis. What does this tell us about the mechanism of parthenogenesis in komodo dragons question 9. View notes week 11 sex and the komodo dragonfull from bisc 102 at simon fraser university. Residents of the island of komodo may call it the ora. Hatching of a komodo dragon varanus komodoensis from an egg produced asexually.
Sightings of the komodo dragon were first reported to europeans in 1910. A rather interesting twist on parthenogenesis has recently been described for komodo dragons. This was only discovered in 2006, when a dragon called flora mothered five baby. Genetics of virgin birth in the komodo dragon ive just read the article on the parthenogenetic komodo dragons in nature, and its very cool. Fragmented populations make matings more difficult and decrease genetic diversity because the dragons have fewer potential partners, and the potential partners they do encounter might very well be closely related. Til komodo dragons can reproduce completely asexually, through a process called parthenogenesis. Pdf parthenogenesis in komodo dragons researchgate. Mating usually occurs during a specific time within the year.
Komodo dragons can reproduce both sexually and asexually depending on the environment. Although they generally do not threaten humans, a komodo dragon bite causes severe tissue damage inflicted by the lizards large, serrated teeth. Biologists have known that some lizards can engage in parthenogenesis, but nonetheless seeing it among komodo dragons surprised zookeepers. He killed a dragon and sent the skin and several photographs to peter a. Komodo dragon, facts and photos national geographic. Dec 20, 2006 this is because komodo dragons have w and z chromosomes females have one w and one z, males have two zs. Komodo dragons reproduce mostly by sexual reproduction. A muscular carnivore armed with sharp teeth, varanus komodoensis dines on prey as large. This form of parthenogenesis is practiced by some lizards i. The combination of highinterest subject matter and narrative text is intended for students in grades 3 through 7provided by publisher.
224 109 672 629 445 1421 1046 1244 1103 658 906 1069 1491 359 137 938 1329 495 842 216 200 1088 1268 1041 407 499 1358 886 1173 674 1225 978 545 120 786 696 998 1188