takes more time to find a mate, requires courtship rituals, nesting, parenting skills, etc Most can reproduce both asexually and

sexually. results in genetically unique individuals or

produces genetically identical

copies (ie. clones) while Sexual reproduction provides much of the produces genetically unique offspring. required for

and . There are advantages and disadvantages to both

types of reproduction: Examples of Asexual Reproduction

Asexual reproduction : A very common type of asexual reproduction especially in colonial animals makes identical copies (clones) of the parent. In budding a new offspring begins as an outgrowth Only a single parent is required of the parent and may either remain attached and form a or break away and begin an the process is much quicker than in sexual independent . reproduction. Fragmentation: Some animals spontaneously break Asexual reproduction is beneficial when into many separate pieces which then regrow into are abundant. a complete animal.

Sexual reproduction (twinning): A type of asexual reproduction in which the or larva involves the fertilization of a ’s egg by a (resulting from sexual reproduction) then clones male’s itself into separate individuals.

For example armadillos typically produce 4 identical offspring from a single fertilized egg. : Animal Reproduction 8/27/15 1 Zoology: Animal Reproduction 8/27/15 2

In some parasitic animals each different larva is Monoecious Animals (): able to clone copies of itself. This allows a Monoecious are those containing both single egg to produce 100’s of potential male and female reproductive organs. offspring and enhances chances that at least a few will be able to find a new host to complete About 15% of animals, especially those that are their life cycle. In this process occurs sessile (nonmotile) or parasitic, tend to be occasionally to produce identical twins. hermaphrodites.

Regeneration: This process is most commonly used Dioecious Animals: These are organisms that not as a form of reproduction but to replace produce either male or female reproductive missing or damaged parts. organs and but never both at the same time. Some organisms have great powers of regeneration while others can only regenerate Protandry: is the ability in some animals to switch simple cells and tissues. their based on environmental cues such as changes in temperature. Humans for example regenerate all their bone about every 7 years and all their : Sometimes it is impossible to blood cells about every 4 months. distinguish the male from the female of a by outward appearance. In other animals, such as lizards and , tails or whole limbs can be replaced. In other dioecious animals the males and can regenerate new “arms” when one is are not identical, but differ in appearance, broken off and sometimes a single arm can thus showing dimorphism. regenerate an entire starfish. For example, in most the male is Examples of Sexual Reproduction usually smaller than the female, while in the female is usually the Most variations in sexual reproduction depend on smaller one. where the gametes come from or whether the developing egg has been fertilized or not. Zoology: Animal Reproduction 8/27/15 3 Zoology: Animal Reproduction 8/27/15 4 In addition to size, dimorphism may also result in differences in and color between genders.

In the male is usually more brightly colored.

Parthenogenesis (‘virgin ’): this process only regularly occurs in nonhuman animals, both vertebrates and invertebrates.

In these cases the unfertilized egg is able to develop even though it has not been fertilized by a sperm.

Most , brine shrimp and some social such as and ants regularly reproduce this way.

Some higher animals such as and can also sometimes reproduce in this way.

Zoology: Animal Reproduction 8/27/15 5