Posted on Jun 7, 2023
Crocodile found to have made herself pregnant
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The first case of a crocodile who made herself pregnant has been identified at a zoo in Costa Rica.
She produced a foetus that was 99.9% genetically identical to herself.
The phenomenon of so-called "virgin birth" has been found in species of birds, fish and other reptiles, but never before in crocodiles.
The scientists say the trait might be inherited from an evolutionary ancestor, so dinosaurs might also have been capable of self-reproduction.
She produced a foetus that was 99.9% genetically identical to herself.
The phenomenon of so-called "virgin birth" has been found in species of birds, fish and other reptiles, but never before in crocodiles.
The scientists say the trait might be inherited from an evolutionary ancestor, so dinosaurs might also have been capable of self-reproduction.
Crocodile found to have made herself pregnant
Posted from bbc.com
Science
Wildlife
Costa Rica
Posted 12 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
...""It is not uncommon for captive reptiles to lay clutches of eggs, given the period of isolation from mates, these would normally be considered non-viable and discarded. These findings therefore suggest that eggs should be assessed for potential viability when males are absent," the scientists say in their research paper.
"Furthermore, given that (virgin births) can occur in the presence of potential mates, instances of this may be missed when reproduction occurs in females co-habited with males".
It is unclear why parthenogenesis occurs in different species, but occurrences are cropping up in the scientific literature more often, probably because researchers are now looking for it. One theory is that it happens in species capable of parthenogenesis when numbers dwindle, and they are on the verge of extinction.
"This new evidence offers tantalizing insights into the possible reproductive capabilities of extinct relatives of crocodiles," write the scientists, "notably the dinosaurs"."
...""It is not uncommon for captive reptiles to lay clutches of eggs, given the period of isolation from mates, these would normally be considered non-viable and discarded. These findings therefore suggest that eggs should be assessed for potential viability when males are absent," the scientists say in their research paper.
"Furthermore, given that (virgin births) can occur in the presence of potential mates, instances of this may be missed when reproduction occurs in females co-habited with males".
It is unclear why parthenogenesis occurs in different species, but occurrences are cropping up in the scientific literature more often, probably because researchers are now looking for it. One theory is that it happens in species capable of parthenogenesis when numbers dwindle, and they are on the verge of extinction.
"This new evidence offers tantalizing insights into the possible reproductive capabilities of extinct relatives of crocodiles," write the scientists, "notably the dinosaurs"."
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SGT (Join to see) I Knew that Some Fish when there is No Male around the Largest Female becomes a Male and Resolves the Problem but that is a Pretty Cool Trick, Asexual Reproduction by a Crocodile!
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