Is there Parthenogenesis in Spiders

[crpy]

I'm old and cant remember if I've ever heard of this in spiders. Parthenogenic reproduction is documented with some reptiles but I do not know of it in spiders.

 

[Talkenlate04]

Not that I know of, no.
That would be cool though if they did though. One female T having nothing but female offspring. That would be awesome.

 

[crpy]

Not that I know of, no.
That would be cool though if they did though. One female T having nothing but female offspring. That would be awesome.

Actually they would all be males. I always found that strange that parthenogenesis produces males. One would think they would be females but males are always produced to my knowledge.

 

[Talkenlate04]

Actually they would all be males. I always found that strange that parthenogenesis produces males. One would think they would be females but males are always produced to my knowledge.

I think you have it backwards,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis

 

[Aurelia]

Yeah parthenogenesis is females. I used to keep stick bugs that were parthenogenetic.

 

[crpy]

I think you have it backwards,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis

Oh, sorry my experience is with reptiles so I was basing it on that. With all Parthenogenesis in reptiles the offspring are males.

 

[Aurelia]

That's not true either-

An interesting aspect to reproduction in these asexual lizards is that mating behaviors are still seen, although the populations are all female. One female plays the role played by the male in closely related species, and mounts the female that is about to lay eggs.

Unless you're referring to Komodo dragons-

Recently, the Komodo dragon, which normally reproduces sexually, was found also to be able to reproduce asexually by parthenogenesis. Because the genetics of sex determination in Komodo Dragons uses the WZ system (where WZ is female, ZZ is male, and WW is inviable) the offspring of this process will be ZZ (male) or WW (inviable), with no WZ females being born.....It has been postulated that this gives an advantage to colonization of islands, where a single female could theoretically have male offspring asexually, then switch to sexual reproduction with them to maintain higher level of genetic diversity than asexual reproduction alone can generate

 

[Talkenlate04]

Yeah parthenogenesis is females. I used to keep stick bugs that were parthenogenetic.

I was given some Extatosoma tiaratum (Macleay's Spectre) eggs yesterday so I hope to get them hatched and feeding. I have never kept them before so this should be interesting.

 

[crpy]

Ok, let me narrow it down further, my experience is with Snakes, namely Agkistrodon piscivorus and I've read of Thamnophis and Durissus. Sorry for the confusion

 

[Taipan]

Oh, sorry my experience is with reptiles so I was basing it on that. With all Parthenogenesis in reptiles the offspring are males.

To my knowledge that's only true with Komodo Dragons. Checkered Whiptails here in Colorado are all female as it is with a few other whiptail species (1 out of 1,000,000 being male). I believe it true of some gecko species as well.

That said I think it would rock if there were a all female producing theraphosid.

 

[GoTerps]

Is there Parthenogenesis in Spiders

Yes, there is.

Here is one example... CLICK HERE.

Eric

 

[Talkenlate04]

Theotima minutissimus is a true spider correct? :?

 

[GoTerps]

Theotima minutissimus is a true spider correct? :?

Well, he did ask about spiders. I couldn't tell if that's what you were getting at, or if you were just asking. Spiders are spiders to me (i hate that "true" term!)... but yes, it is what some refer to as a "true" spider.

Eric

 

[Talkenlate04]

I just assumed we were talking about tarantulas given the forum we are in.
That is still a cool article. I did not know that occurred in any arachnids.
What do you think the odds are of them just missing the existence of males and mating?

 

[UrbanJungles]

Most parthenogenic animals are female, if they weren't then there would cease to be parthenogenisis since males can't give birth. There are no parthenogenic T's to my knowledge.

Hey Ryan, Extatosoma aren't parthenogenic either...

 

[crpy]

I put it in the T section but any spider having parthenogenic reproduction is cool, thanks GoTerps.

 

[Talkenlate04]

Hey Ryan, Extatosoma aren't parthenogenic either...

They are indeed parthenogenic. The owner of the females never had males and some of the eggs are already hatching.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extatosoma_tiaratum

 

[UrbanJungles]

Ryan,
I've been keeping this species cinsistently for 8 years in the museum collection on exhibit and I have had about 3 instances where I had to refresh the population because I was literally down to the last Extatosoma...never once did they exhibit any asexual reproduction. I also keep Bacculum bacculum where by contrast every single stick insect is female and reproduces parthenogenically.

You can't believe everything on Wikipedia my man...

 

[Aurelia]

The eggs of this species can take from 4 months if mating has been successful or up to 9 months if parthenogenesis (none mated females).

http://www.exotic-pets.co.uk/macleays-stick-insect.html

 

[UrbanJungles]

Before we get linked to another amateur or pet website...anyone have first hand experience or a scientific source?

Sorry, I tend to be cynical about what I read on the web these days.