Nature & Environment
Virgin birth snake produces more offspring
By
T.K. RandallSeptember 20, 2015 ·
7 comments
Some animals have been known to give birth through parthenogenesis. Image Credit: PD - Whkoh
A female snake has given birth to young for the second time in two years without a male's contribution.
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 |
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Tags:
Snake, Virgin Birth
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