Barbados, meaning “bearded men,” was named by Portugese sailors arriving on the islands during the early 1600’s. The lush tropical trees gave the island a “bearded” appearance. Britain gained control of Barbados in 1627 and held the area until Barbados became independent in 1966.
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Kentropyx borckianus - The Barbados dwarf-keeled tegus is an unusual animal. It is an animal able to reproduce through a process known as parthenogenesis. There are no males existing within this species; each individual is a female. Parthenogenesis is of Greek origin and translates as “virgin birth.” This form of reproduction does not require a male for the fertilization of the embryo. It is a common trait found in plant reproduction and there are some invertebrate using the same process, but it is rarely found in vertebrates.
