Many organisms dedicate their entire adult lives to finding a mate and producing offspring. The rhythms of sex govern the actions and choices of so many animals that it seems to be a rule of biology: Sex is important.

But life’s multifariousness yields some exceptions. A small percentage of animals reproduce asexually, though many of these also resort to sex now and then. These asexual outliers have different techniques for reproducing: Some small invertebrates create offspring by budding, growing small versions of themselves that eventually detach; others, like some corals, can divide themselves in two. Some fish species need males around only because they require sperm to kickstart their reproductive process, even though they only rarely incorporate any genetic material from those males.

What’s black, white and showing up in two Georgia counties?

If you guessed Argentine black and white tegu lizards, you’re probably either a herpetologist or a resident of the Peach State who has helped wildlife officials track and trap these invasive reptiles.

Argentine tegus, which can reach lengths of up to 4 feet when fully grown, are not native to Georgia. As their name suggests, they’re originally from South America, found in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Like many other invasive species — reptiles in particular — they have ended up far from home thanks to people wanting to keep them as pets. Then they’re either accidentally or intentionally released into the wild.

As you get closer to Earth’s poles, seasonal swings in temperature and vegetation get increasingly drastic. In many places, snowy winter wastelands alternate with relatively lush summers. That can make life hard for birds, unless they can cope with the weather — and their food sources — changing throughout the year. Birds that can’t handle it migrate to warmer climes for the winter. Those that tough it out year-round tend to have big brains relative to their body size, which help them figure out how to manage life in the changing landscape — or so scientists had thought.