What animals produce babies without a mate?

Animals that produce babies without a mate are called parthenogenetic animals. Here are some examples:

Invertebrates:

* Rotifers: Microscopic animals found in freshwater.

* Aphids: Tiny insects that can switch between sexual and asexual reproduction.

* Bees: Queen bees can lay unfertilized eggs that develop into male drones.

* Ants: Some ant species can produce offspring without mating.

* Komodo dragons: While they typically reproduce sexually, they can reproduce parthenogenetically, producing only female offspring.

Vertebrates:

* Sharks: Some species of sharks can reproduce parthenogenetically.

* Lizards: Several lizard species, including the whiptail lizard, are known to reproduce asexually.

Important Note: It's crucial to understand that parthenogenesis is not the same as cloning. While parthenogenetic offspring are genetically identical to the mother, they are not exact copies. There is some genetic variation due to processes like recombination.

This is just a small list, and there are many other animals that can reproduce parthenogenetically. This reproductive strategy can be advantageous in certain environments, particularly when mates are scarce.