10 Animals That Can Reproduce Without Sex

Jun 28, 2023

Parthenogenesis

Some animals can create offspring without a partner, thanks to a process called parthenogenesis. This means "virgin birth" in Greek, and it allows females to produce clones of themselves

Sharks

Some sharks have surprised scientists by producing parthenogenetic offspring in captivity, when no males were present

Komodo Dragon

These giant lizards can also produce parthenogenetic offspring in captivity or in the wild when males are scarce

Chicken And Turkeys

These domestic birds usually need a rooster or a tom to fertilize their eggs, but sometimes they can produce parthenogenetic offspring

Starfish

These sea creatures can regenerate new bodies from severed limbs, creating clones of themselves

Whiptail Lizards

Some species of these lizards are entirely female and can produce clones of themselves

Aphids

These plant-sucking insects can reproduce rapidly by producing clones of themselves during summers

Amazon Mollies

These female fishes use sperm from other fish species to trigger their eggs to develop, but the sperm does not contribute any genetic material

Marbled Crayfish

These freshwater crustaceans are all female and can produce identical copies of themselves

Bees And Wasps

Some female bees and wasps can lay unfertilized eggs that develop into males, while fertilized eggs become females

Stick Insect

These leaf-like bugs can switch between sexual and asexual reproduction, depending on the availability of males

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