A zoo in Costa Rica has identified the first known case of a self-fertilizing crocodile. The female crocodile was found to have become pregnant without the presence of a male crocodile.
A foetus was born with genetic similarities of 99.9% to its mother, which means that they share almost
The occurrence known as "virgin birth" has been observed in various types of animals such as birds, fish, and reptiles, but it has not been previously recorded in crocodiles.
According to researchers, it is possible that the ability to reproduce on one’s own could have been passed down from a common ancestor through the process of evolution. This means that dinosaurs may have also possessed
In January 2018, a female American crocodile, who was 18 years old, laid an egg in Parque Reptilania. Unfortunately, the baby crocodile inside was already fully developed but did not hatch and was stillborn.
The park acquired a crocodile that laid an egg. The crocodile had been isolated from other crocodiles since it was two years old. Due to this unique circumstance, the park’s scientific team sought assistance from a specialized team in Virginia Polytechnic, who are experts in parthenogenesis or virgin births.
After conducting an analysis of the unborn offspring, it was discovered that its genetic makeup was over 99.9% similar to its mother’s, thus proving that there was no contribution from a male parent.
According to an article published in the Biology Letters journal of the Royal Society, researchers suggest that virgin births may be prevalent among crocodiles and have been overlooked due to people’s lack of observation.
The scientists have observed that captive reptiles often lay eggs even without a mate due to their isolation. Usually, these eggs are considered non-viable and are thrown away. However, the scientists suggest that it is important to examine these eggs for potential viability when the males are not present.
Additionally, it is possible for virgin births to happen even when there are potential partners around, but these occurrences might not be detected if the female is living with a male.
The reasons for the occurrence of parthenogenesis in various species are not fully understood, but it is becoming more frequently observed in scientific literature, possibly due to increased interest by researchers. One hypothesis suggests that parthenogenesis may occur in species that face extinction as a way to maintain their population numbers.
According to the scientists, this new evidence provides exciting information about the reproductive abilities of extinct species related to crocodiles, particularly dinosaurs.
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