Lizards are unusual.  A lot of lizards exhibit parthenogenesis, or the ability to give birth to new baby lizards via asexual reproduction.  Basically, under certain conditions, lizards can clone themselves.  However, a new species called Leiolepis ngovantrii is believed to reproduce exclusively via cloning, and it was discovered in the weirdest place possible.  The self-cloning all-female lizard species was discovered for sale at a restaurant.

As it turns out, self-cloning female lizards are a delicious taste treat in Vietnam.  “The Vietnamese have been eating these for time on end,” said herpetologist L. Lee Grismer of La Sierra University in Riverside, California, who helped identify the animal.  “In this part of the Mekong Delta [in southeastern Vietnam], restaurants have been serving this undescribed species, and we just stumbled across it.”

A picture of the lizards was captured by Grismer’s colleague, Ngo Van Tri of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.  The case of lizards for sale was exclusively female, judging by their coloration.  Grismer and his son Jesse hopped on a plane to Siagon, took an 8-hour motorcycle trip, and ended up without any lizards.  “When we finally got there, this crazy guy had gotten drunk and served them all to his customers.”

Tags: Leiolepis ngovantrii, self-cloning lizard, lizards, parthenogenesis, female lizard species, all-female lizard species, self-cloning lizard found in Vietnamese restaurant, Vietnamese food, L. Lee Grismer, La Sierra University, Riverside, California, new species, unusual new species, weird animals, unusual foods

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