Leaping Lesbian Lizard Facts
- Somewhat uniquely, the Leaping Lesbian Lizard serves as the popular name for a particular New Mexico Whiptail Lizard. What sets this remarkable creature apart, however, is the fact that it was produced through the inter-breeding of two distinct native species of lizard.
- Amazingly, this astonishing lizard resulted from the mixing of the Little Striped Whiptail and the Western Whiptail, which occurred without the aid of man. The hybridization of these species produces sterile males, however. But, the resourcefulness of Nature did not stop there.
- That’s because the incredible species actually managed to achieve parthenogenesis, a type of asexual reproduction. This allows the resulting all-female population to reproduce. The unusual lizard, therefore, actually evolved into a separate species capable of reproduction.
- In fact, this combination of inter-species hybridization and parthenogenesis isn’t entirely unique. It also exists in other species within the animal kingdom. That’s due to the fact that the process exists as a reproductive strategy in several species, also varieties of whiptail lizard.
- The mind-blowing Leaping Lesbian Lizard also holds yet another distinction. This one, however, has nothing to do with any physical aspect of the creature. That’s because this phenomenal reptile currently represents the official state reptile of the state of New Mexico.
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Leaping Lesbian Lizard Physical Description
Perhaps most notably, the amazing Leaping Lesbian Lizard, regardless of any of its other attributes, constitutes merely a small-to-moderate sized lizard. That occurs due to the fact that the majority of individuals attain a total length measuring somewhere between 6.5 – 9.1 in (16.5 – 23 cm).
Quite obviously, sexual dimorphism does not appear in this species, as it does in many related creatures on earth today, though. Among most specimens, its natural coloring typically presents as an overall brown or black. However, seven pale yellow stripes also extend from head to tail.
Numerous light spots also often occur between the head-to-tail stripes of this biological wonder. The majority of individuals also have a white or pale blue underside, with a blue or blue-green colored throat. The body of the Leaping Lesbian Lizard additionally develops a distinctive shape.
That construction appears as distinctly slender, while the tail of the awesome reptile grows comparatively long. In fact, this particular shape, in combination with its eye-catching coloring pattern, additionally represents an evolutionary adaptation designed for camouflage in its habitat.
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Squamata
- Family: Telidae
- Genus: Cnemidophorus
- Species: C. neomexicanus
Leaping Lesbian Lizard Behavior
Like most others among its kindred, the Leaping Lesbian Lizard also evolved as diurnal in nature. It’s thus far more active in the daylight hours. The reptile also evolved as entirely insectivorous in nature. It remains wary, energetic, and fast moving, frequently darting for cover if approached.
Its reproductive methods, however, clearly and distinctly separate the animal from most related types of lizards. When this remarkable animal reproduces, the mother-to-be actually lays up to four unfertilized eggs. This action most commonly occurs in the mid-summer part of the year.
These precious few eggs laid then typically hatch approximately eight weeks later. Intriguingly, despite reproducing asexually, and being an all-female species, the Leaping Lesbian Lizard still engages in mating behavior with other females of its own species, as its common name also implies.
Interestingly, a common belief among many researchers suggests a logical purpose for this. That theory proposes that this observed behavior helps to stimulate ovulation in individuals. This supposition occurs due to the observed fact that those examples who do not mate do not lay eggs.
Leaping Lesbian Lizard Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology
Not surprisingly, the fascinating Leaping Lesbian Lizard evolved as indigenous to a particularly arid environment. This zone of habitation likely comes as no surprise to anyone, though. That specific range includes the southern United States and also northern Mexico, in North America.
However, even within these two already limited regions, the amazing Leaping Lesbian Lizard also has specific areas it chooses to inhabit. As a result, in the United States it only appears in New Mexico and Arizona. Meanwhile, in Mexico, the species only lives in the area of Chihuahua.
The New Mexico Whiptail Lizard, as it’s also occasionally called, also lives in a relatively wide variety of semi-arid habitats. These varied regions include grassland, rocky areas, shrubland, or mountainside woodlands, proving its adaptability. It’s truly a remarkable creation of Nature.
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