What animals reproduce without parents?

There's no animal that can reproduce *completely* without parents. However, there are some fascinating ways animals reproduce that might seem like they're bypassing parental involvement:

1. Parthenogenesis: This is a form of asexual reproduction where an egg develops into a new organism without being fertilized by a sperm.

* Examples: Some species of lizards, snakes, insects, and even sharks can reproduce this way. The offspring are typically female and genetically identical to the mother.

2. Hermaphroditism: This means an individual has both male and female reproductive organs.

* Examples: Earthworms, snails, and some fish can reproduce this way. In some cases, they may even self-fertilize. However, they still require another individual's genetic material for offspring.

3. Cloning: While not natural, scientists can create genetically identical copies of animals through cloning. This process doesn't involve typical reproduction but still requires a donor cell.

It's important to note: Even in cases like parthenogenesis, the offspring still have genetic material from the mother. So, they technically still have a parent, even if it's just one.