Nature & Environment

Virgin birth snake produces more offspring

By T.K. Randall
September 20, 2015

Image: Murray Darling Carpet Python
Credit: Scarlet23 / CC BY-SA 3.0 (adapted) According to officials at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center in south-east Missouri, the captive yellow-bellied water snake had previously given birth back in the summer of last year before going on to do so again this year - both times without ever having mated with a male.

Virgin births like this are extremely rare however they have been known to happen from time to time through parthenogenesis - a process through which babies can be produced from unfertilized eggs.There is also the possibility that the snake may have stored sperm from a male that it encountered before it was captured eight years ago. Given that most female snakes can only store sperm for up to a year however ( with the record being around three years ) this explanation seems unlikely.

"Whether this is long-term storage or parthenogenesis, it's cool," said naturalist Michelle Randecker.

"Just another sign that nature works in mysterious ways.”

Source: The Guardian

Tags: Snake, Virgin Birth