26/11/2025
Komodo dragons sometimes have what people call virgin births. That means a female can lay eggs that become babies without mating with a male. Scientists call this parthenogenesis, but it simply means the mother’s body makes eggs that grow into young on their own.
When a Komodo dragon has a virgin birth, the baby animals are essentially identical to the mother. They carry the same genes and look very much alike. This is a quick way to make more dragons when no males are around.
However, if the species is to survive and cope with changes in the environment over many generations, it needs genetic variety. Mating between males and females mixes different genes and produces children who are not exact copies. That mix helps the species adapt to new diseases, climates, and other challenges. So while virgin births can happen, normal sexual reproduction is important for the long-term health of Komodo dragons.
