Boa Constrictors Can Have Babies Without Mating

[Hannah Bell]

ScienceDaily (Nov. 4, 2010) — In a finding that upends decades of scientific theory on reptile reproduction, researchers at North Carolina State University have discovered that female boa constrictors can squeeze out babies without mating.

More strikingly, the finding shows that the babies produced from this asexual reproduction have attributes previously believed to be impossible.

Large litters of all-female babies produced by the "super mom" boa constrictor show absolutely no male influence -- no genetic fingerprint that a male was involved in the reproductive process. All the female babies also retained their mother's rare recessive color mutation.

This is the first time asexual reproduction, known in the scientific world as parthenogenesis, has been attributed to boa constrictors, says Dr. Warren Booth, an NC State postdoctoral researcher in entomology and the lead author of a paper describing the study. He adds that the results may force scientists to re-examine reptile reproduction, especially among more primitive snake species like boa constrictors.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101103111210.htm

[Chulanowa]

1. Not too odd

Whiptail lizards do this all the time. Some species are 100% female.

[whyverne]

2. It's a miracle!

I think the seemingly hyperbole in the article is only directed toward the fact that they found parthenogenesis in an older reptile species. I think parthenogenesis is already well known in more modern species. One has to read carefully to pick that out.

[exboyfil]

3. Like Jeff Goldbloom said in Jurrasic Park

Nature will find a way.

[XemaSab]

4. Who the hell unreced this?

Seriously, people, WHY DO YOU HATE AMERICA?!?!/!

[rug]

5. I think it was a male boa constrictor.

[DaveinJapan]

14. lmao. nt

[Systematic Chaos]

6. aw crap

Never mind, the image won't post properly :(

[MineralMan]

13. I did. After seeing your message about it.

Unrecs are a feature of DU. Complaining about them does nothing. So, why bother complaining about them?

[Lint Head]

7. Oh my Gawd! That is Satan's animal as represented in the

bible. It's immaculate reptilian conception! It's a sign Armageddon is near and we will soon be caught up into the air to walk through the pearly gates to the streets of gold where we will take possession of our appointed mansions. :evilgrin:

Actually, I think snakes are cool. :smoke:

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. Wow. Watch for Christine O'Donnell to become a parent.

[Pacifist Patriot]

9. DUzy

[jberryhill]

10. I always thought she was lying

I was drunk that night, but not that drunk.

Besides, he doesn't look like me.

[HopeHoops]

11. Good reason to only buy a male boa! That litter would be a major hassle to feed.

You can determine a snake's sex fairly easily (on most species). The males have a small claw on either side of the asshole port. It is under a scale but pretty easy to find. There's a theory that it is the last remnant from when snakes had legs. Another is that it is somehow used in mating, but I don't even WANT to know how THAT would work.

[kwolf68]

12. I wonder what the fundies think

About the fact fruit flies can be homosexual?

Whenever a gay basher says being gay isn't natural just bring up the fact Drosophila Melanogaster DOES have incidence of homosexuality.

Of course, we know the fly 'makes the choice' and is going to hell.

[blindpig]

15. Natural selection

That's one way to retain successful traits, the downside being that if the environment changes in a way adverse to those traits there is less possibility of that line continuing.

We used to attribute apparent 'virgin births' to sperm retention, some female reptiles can retain and employ sperm at least 3 or 4 years, may have missed something there.