Female Crocodiles Capable of Self-Replication, Researchers Find
Alligator in Costa Rica Has ‘Virgin Birth’
Scientists have confirmed that a female American alligator in Costa Rica produced a fetus that was 99.9 percent genetically identical to itself, making it the first documented case of parthenogenesis, or “virgin birth,” in crocodiles.
While this phenomenon has been observed in other species such as birds, fish and reptiles, this marks the first time such a development has been seen in crocodiles.
Experts believe that this trait may be inherited, suggesting that dinosaurs may also have been capable of self-reproduction.
The alligator, which was 18 years old at the time, laid an egg in January 2018, but it resulted in a stillborn. However, the fetus inside the egg was found to be fully formed, indicating that it did not hatch.
The alligator had been kept separately from other crocodiles in the zoo from the age of two, which led the experts working at the facility to contact a group of researchers working on virgin birth at Virginia Polytechnic University in the USA.
The team that analyzed the fetus found that it was more than 99.9 percent genetically identical to its mother, ruling out any possibility of a father.
According to the researchers, writing in the journal Royal Society, virgin births may be more common in crocodiles than previously thought and may not have been noticed until now, as humans have not been actively seeking out such examples.
