First Recorded Virgin Birth Of World's Largest Snakes
- 10 years ago
Reticulated pythons are the largest species of snake in the world. Now, for the first time in recorded history, one of these snakes at the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky has given birth to six babies without mating with a male of the species.
Reticulated pythons are the largest species of snake in the world.
Now, for the first time in recorded history, one of these snakes at the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky has given birth to six babies without mating with a male of the species.
Other animals have been documented having a virgin birth and the scientific name for such occurrence is parthenogenesis.
However, it's the first the scientists know of for this snake species.
In this case, a process called terminal fusion automixis occurred, where polar body cells act like sperm and bond with an egg to start cell division and egg development.
Bill McMahan, the zoo's curator of cold-blooded animals is quoted as saying: "It takes a lot out of pythons to reproduce, and she had everything she needed. I had fed her a really big meal, 40 pounds of chicken. She was living in an exhibit larger than the typical size."
Reticulated pythons are the largest species of snake in the world.
Now, for the first time in recorded history, one of these snakes at the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky has given birth to six babies without mating with a male of the species.
Other animals have been documented having a virgin birth and the scientific name for such occurrence is parthenogenesis.
However, it's the first the scientists know of for this snake species.
In this case, a process called terminal fusion automixis occurred, where polar body cells act like sperm and bond with an egg to start cell division and egg development.
Bill McMahan, the zoo's curator of cold-blooded animals is quoted as saying: "It takes a lot out of pythons to reproduce, and she had everything she needed. I had fed her a really big meal, 40 pounds of chicken. She was living in an exhibit larger than the typical size."