Australian Central Bearded Dragons have been discovered to be the first lizards to change sex in the wild, when under the sun. Changes in sex within lizards has occurred before, but under controlled experiments.
The sex change occurs when lizards are subjected to heat temperatures at which eggs are incubated. Another factor that plays a role in the sex change is when embryos have two Z chromosomes, which makes them genetically male. These male embryos can develop as female at warm egg incubation temperatures.
Unlike species with X and Y chromosomes, reptiles have Z and W chromosomes; ZZ= male and ZW=female. The Australian Central Bearded Dragon’s sex is determined by both the chromosomes and the temperature at which eggs are incubated. Research shows us that when these sex-reversed females mate with normal males, their offspring does not have sex chromosomes and their sex is determined by temperature. Their offspring also has a higher chance to have a sex change under the sun. Oddly, sex-reversed mothers laid almost twice as many eggs as normal female lizards. According to a study, global warming may be the cause of transforming the biology of climate sensitive reptiles and is rising concern for other animals also.
The altering sex of lizards may be increasing worry in regard to global warming but you have to admit, that a lizards biological make up can change dependent on temperature is interesting. Have you ever wanted to be the opposite sex? What if you changed sex according to the climate change? Here are some reasons why you might want to switch sexes
