A lizard at a UK zoo has given delivery with out mating in what has been described as “one of many rarest occasions within the animal kingdom”.
A feminine casque-headed iguana produced eight wholesome hatchlings at Unique Zoo in Telford, Shropshire, with out ever being housed with a male.
The infants are receiving “round the clock care” and are anticipated to go on public show within the coming weeks.
The “virgin births” had been as a result of parthenogenesis, when an embryo develops from an unfertilised egg – a course of which the zoo stated had been documented in “solely a handful of reptile species worldwide”.
The offspring are equivalent genetic clones of their mom.
The zoo’s director, Scott Adams, advised Sky Information the occasion confirmed nature’s “self-conservation” and it had all come as a “shock and shock”.
The second one of many eggs hatched. Pic: Unique Zoo
He added: “It has been a cool expertise for us. That is like nature doing it for itself.
“This is likely one of the rarest occasions within the animal kingdom.
“After we confirmed the eggs had been fertile with none contact with a male, our jaws hit the ground.
“These infants are primarily mini-mum clones, and seeing them thrive is unimaginable.
“For us, it is a highly effective reminder that life finds a means in probably the most surprising circumstances.
“They’ve produced infants with out males, so it is self-conservation.”
Mr Adams stated workers first “seen one thing taking place” when the lizard bought greater.
“The infants will obtain round the clock care, however they may finally go off to different zoos,” he added.
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Casque-headed iguanas are native to Central and South America and are dealing with quite a lot of threats within the wild, the zoo stated.
These embody habitat loss and unlawful poaching for the pet commerce.
“This story offers us a tremendous alternative to speak with our guests about genetics, evolution, and the challenges that reptiles face within the wild,” stated Mr Adams.
