Article published on October 7, 2010.
Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz campus have discovered that the social patterns of a certain Mohave desert lizard species emulate the social patterns of birds and mammals. Their experiments regarding these lizards provide new insight into the evolution of cooperative behavior.
It makes sense for these lizards to have prolonged contact with family members, considering that they give birth viviparously instead of laying eggs, as other species of lizards have been known to do; however, what makes these lizards so amazing is their tendency to form long-lasting relationships with their family members. Extensive genetic testing found that young lizards don't leave their family units for several years after they are born; and after they leave the nest, so to speak, they often return to the same spot year after year.
According to Alison Davis, who led the study as a graduate student at the University of California in Santa Cruz, "Viviparity provides the opportunity for prolonged interaction... which predisposes the animals to form family groups."
The researchers didn't address the advantages of baby lizards staying with their mothers for the first years of life. The young seem to provide for themselves and receive no direct care from their siblings. But Davis suspects that there might be other advantages to living in a group living arrangement.
For now, Davis hopes her study will broaden interest in these unusual animals among scientists and the general public. Who knows? She may be right.
No comments:
Post a Comment