Mystery as lone python suddenly lays eggs

Posted on Saturday, 12 September, 2020 | Comment icon

The snake was photographed with her clutch of eggs. Image Credit: Twitter / Saint Louis Zoo

An elderly female snake that hasn't been near a male in 15 years has inexplicably laid a clutch of eggs.

The python, which at 62 years of age is believed to be the oldest known snake in captivity, resides at St Louis zoo where she has remained isolated from other snakes for well over a decade.

Out of the seven eggs, three have been placed in an incubator, two have been used for genetic sampling and the other two did not survive.

It is estimated that the surviving eggs could hatch within a month.

Exactly how the snake ended up laying eggs despite its isolation isn't clear, however it is not unheard of for pythons to reproduce asexually or to store sperm for long periods of time.

It is hoped that the genetic sampling will reveal which of these two possibilities is most likely.

One thing's for certain - the python, which is known only as 361003, is the oldest snake on record ever to have laid eggs, making her a record breaker one way or the other.

On 7/23, something incredible happened at the Herpetarium — a ball python laid eggs! This particular female snake is over 50 years old (the oldest snake documented in a Zoo) & has not been with a male in over 15 years!

Read more: https://t.co/GkAEsRD5iZ pic.twitter.com/oeHI9OURZY
— Saint Louis Zoo (@stlzoo) September 8, 2020

Source: The Guardian | Comments (40)

Recent comments on this story

#31 Posted by openozy on 15 September, 2020, 12:24

It sounds a bit high.The worst thing about this is it makes males almost obsolete,lol.

#32 Posted by Rolltide on 15 September, 2020, 21:19

Hey! That's my line.. � � ----------------------

#33 Posted by psyche101 on 15 September, 2020, 22:14

The rabbits were artificially induced. Not sure how they do that, but I don't think a mammal has ever produced a viable offspring. The link I read said the chickens rarely live past 8 days. Lack of genetic material creates a poor offspring. I suspect the offspring is more like a natural clone of the parent than actual offspring.

#34 Posted by psyche101 on 15 September, 2020, 22:15

That's high, but good call to cookie I have to say to bring it up at all.

#35 Posted by openozy on 16 September, 2020, 3:14

Maybe they are born the genetic age of the parent and their organs can't cope.

#36 Posted by psyche101 on 16 September, 2020, 3:18

I'm pretty sure it's more to do with weak genetics. Like inbreeding.�

#37 Posted by openozy on 16 September, 2020, 3:24

I just remember Dolly the sheep,her clone was born as a 5 year old sheep,Dolly's age.

#38 Posted by psyche101 on 16 September, 2020, 5:46

That was just the press misrepresenting information again. The�Roslin Institute set the record straight there. Several other sheep were cloned from the same source and lived full lives.�

#39 Posted by openozy on 16 September, 2020, 6:07

When you think about it it is sort of the closest form of inbreeding,the parent would only need a slight fault and the offspring are doomed.I've heard of a strain of mice that are bred brother to sister every gen and are healthy and produce large litters.That is some seriously dedicated animal husbandry.

#40 Posted by psyche101 on 16 September, 2020, 6:11

Yeah cheetahs are also a good example. After a bottleneck they were reduced to a very small population and still have serious genetic problems.

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