Phylogeny
The phylogeny of parthenogenic ability is yet poorly understood. However, it appears to be fairly common among reptiles as it has been observed in a number of species. Hybridization of species with slightly different chromosomal regulation is thought to be the cause of many cases. However other cases have been documented such as a viable fatherless boa. Asexual reproduction has also been observed in monitor lizards. Due to their sex chromosomes being ZW determining female and ZZ determining male, as parthenogenesis works by dividing the oocyte haploid DNA, the only possible outcome is male for the offspring. This kind of parthenogenesis has the potential to provide great adaptive success in reaching hard to reach places as a single female dispersed, by storm or any number of isolating mechanisms, could produce a male to create an entirely new and sexually functioning population. Incidentally, this gives credibility to Jurassic Park’s depiction of fully female populations reproducing as part of their troubles and the response “life finds a way.”
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