Tiergarten Nürnberg

Natural clones 

Like other reptiles, the growth and development of the Kimberley Rock Monitors embryos occurs without fertilisation (parthenogenesis). This means that females lay eggs with a complete double set of chromosomes which, when hatched, will be 100% identical to their mother. This has been seen in two zoological gardens with Komodo Dragons. The biological advantage to this is that a single female can colonize a new habitat, e.g. an island. Once a male comes along, the females can "switch" to normal sexual reproduction.