The yellow - bellied three - toed skink place its orchis along the coast of southeasterly Australia . The yellow - belly three - toed scincid lizard gives birth to exist young in the mountains of Australia . Same species — two different ways of reproducing . What ’s going on here ?
Along the warmth of the coast , this long , spindly - legged lizard deposition its bollock where they can fend for themselves . If a predator does n’t get them , they ’ll think up into a whole new generation of xanthous - bellied skinks . Up in the pile , the testicle would have a rough time of it . The temperature at higher altitudes drops , and the scincid eggs do n’t have the same chance as their coastal siblings do . The yellow - belly skink has found a solution to that ; it disposes with eggs entirely and carries its immature internally until it can give birth to them .
There are two other reptile species that both give birth and lie down eggs . Researchers trust that they , like this skink , are in the midsection of a jump . In fourth dimension , they may cease set ball exclusively , joining the twenty per centum of Snake River and lizard species which give parturition to live vernal .
Find out more atNational Geographic .
Photo : Rebecca A. Pyles
EvolutionScience
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