Evolution in Action: Lizard Moving From Eggs to Live Birth

[SaltwaterServr]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...ve-birth-eggs/

Evolution has been caught in the act, according to scientists who are decoding how a species of Australian lizard is abandoning egg-laying in favor of live birth.

Along the warm coastal lowlands of New South Wales (map), the yellow-bellied three-toed skink lays eggs to reproduce. But individuals of the same species living in the state's higher, colder mountains are almost all giving birth to live young.

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[Rowdy]

I hope Chickens don't catch wind of this.

[reddyuta]

very interesting,thanks for posting.

[Hoofbite]

I've always wondered why so many animals have such little and useless arms.

Must suck. Sorry Costa.

[jobberone]

Did you guys see the article about parthenogenesis in reptiles? There's been a few species its known for but they are finding it occurs more often than we thought.

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showth...87#post4772887

[SaltwaterServr]

Originally Posted by Hoofbite

I've always wondered why so many animals have such little and useless arms.

Must suck. Sorry Costa.

Skinks. They burrow. Arms are in the way.

Funny thing about cetaceans, many of them retain their lower limbs in some state through adulthood, and also have parts and pieces of their pelvis.

To explain, cetaceans are whales, dolphins, porpoises. To the best of my knowledge, its still a general consensus that they were former land mammals that evolved for life back into the sea, hence they have their walking land mammal bone structures.

[CliffnMesquite]

Another 500 Million years or so, and they will be running the place.

[jobberone]

Originally Posted by CliffnMesquite

Another 500 Million years or so, and they will be running the place.

Which one? Short armed descendents of Costa or whales?

[SaltwaterServr]

Originally Posted by CliffnMesquite

Another 500 Million years or so, and they will be running the place.

2 or 3 million should be all that's necessary. 500 million would be enough for the successor to our successor.

I'd keep my eyes on bees and squid too.

[Romo 2 Austin]

Originally Posted by CliffnMesquite

Another 500 Million years or so, and they will be running the place.

Alot less than that lol.

[arglebargle]

Originally Posted by SaltwaterServr

2 or 3 million should be all that's necessary. 500 million would be enough for the successor to our successor.

I'd keep my eyes on bees and squid too.

I laugh at your silly squid successors! Don't be a sucker for that line. Everyone knows it will be the Octopi!

[ethiostar]

Originally Posted by Rowdy

I hope Chickens don't catch wind of this.

Awesome!

[theogt]

Originally Posted by Rowdy

I hope Chickens don't catch wind of this.

[jobberone]

Originally Posted by Rowdy

I hope Chickens don't catch wind of this.

Ok, Rowdy, that was a good one.