Ronaldo, a 13-year-old boa constrictor at City of Portsmouth College, has astounded caretakers by giving birth to 14 snakelets despite never having contact with a male snake. Initially believed to be male, Ronaldo’s unexpected parthenogenesis—the process of virgin birth—has only been documented three times before in Brazilian rainbow boa constrictors. Pete Quinlan, the college’s animal care technician who rescued Ronaldo nine years ago, shared the surprising news. He recalled being alerted by students to the presence of baby snakes in Ronaldo’s tank on the day of their birth, underscoring the rare and remarkable event in snake biology.
What is Parthenogenesis?
Parthenogenesis is a biological phenomenon where an organism develops from an unfertilized egg, typically resulting in the production of female gametes and occasionally male ones. This reproductive strategy is widespread among lower plants and invertebrates, including species like rotifers, aphids, ants, wasps, and bees. In higher vertebrates, however, parthenogenesis is a rare occurrence. This process allows certain species to reproduce without the need for fertilization, presenting a fascinating area of study in biological sciences.
