Males are less important than females.

I don't mean in a moral sense, whether you are male, female, intersex, or other, it's completely irrelevant to your moral value as a human being.

I mean in a biological sense. I mean in a survival of the fittest sense.

When it comes to reproduction at the level of the species, males are optional.

Females are indispensable.

Today, we're going to talk about an animal where the males have been dispensed with.

The whip-tail lizard.

Aspitoceles sonari. I'm males have been dispensed with. The whip-tail lizard. A spitacellus sonarai.

I'm Mackin.

This is species.

Welcome to the show.

Quick warning for parents up front.

Today we are going to talk a lot about reproduction.

So if that's an off-limit topic in your house,

feel free to listen to any other episode.

Because today it is going to be front and center.

Today we're going to talk about a tiny, nondescript lizard from northern Mexico and the American Southwest,

who gives us the opportunity to talk about a lot of interesting science and ideas.

Thank you so much to all of you who take the time to share this show.

If it weren't for you, nobody would know about it.

Thank you to all the donors who make this show possible.

Thank you, Eric and the animals, for playing me in.

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