Boa Constrictor Alone for 9 Years Gave Birth to 14 Snakelets

[kellyhound]

A Boa Constrictor named Ronaldo, 13, and thought to be male, gave birth to 14 snakelets at the City of Portsmouth College without a mate.

The birth was a result of parthenogenesis, a rare form of asexual reproduction where embryos develop without fertilization, explained by a reptile specialist.

He believed Ronaldo was male until she gave birth and said that "she had not had contact with a male" snake in the nine years that he has had her.

The process of virgin births is known as parthenogenesis and has only ever happened three times to a Brazilian rainbow boa constrictor.

The baby snakes are effectively clones of their mother, though their markings vary slightly, offering students a unique learning opportunity.

Many invertebrates, such as insects, can produce offspring asexually, without ever having mated.
They usually do this by cloning themselves, producing genetically identical offspring.
In February, a stingray in the US fell pregnant without having a mate.
Among vertebrate animals, like snakes, it remains a novelty.

[v1r]

NO STEP ON SNEK

[HIGHTECHDUDE]

[Mr.NoCredit]

It’s obvious that God has intervened and blessed this animal sorta like him getting the Virgin Mary pregnant.

+

[corpsehands]

You are witness to the birth of snake christ!

[Mr_Shlaapu]

Respect its pronouns.

[houseoftechno]

AB Inbev's new marketing director is drafting up a sponsorship deal.