MANCHESTER, England (AP) - A British zoo announced Wednesday the virgin birth of five Komodo dragons, giving scientists new hope for Jona
In an evolutionary twist, the newborns' eight-year-old mother Flora shocked staff at Chester Zoo in northern England when she became pregnant without ever having a male partner or even being exposed to the opposite sex.
"Flora is oblivious to the excitement she has caused but we are delighted to say she is now a mum and dad," said a delighted Kevin Buley, the zoo's curator of lower vertebrates and invertebrates.
The shells began cracking last week, after an eight-month gestation period, which culminated with the arrival on Tuesday of the fifth black and yellow colored dragon.
He said the reptiles are in good health and enjoying a diet of crickets and locusts, and look just like their mum.
Other reptile species reproduce asexually in a process known as parthenogenesis. But Flora's virginal conception, and that of another Komodo dragon earlier this year at the London Zoo, are the first
[Note: TWO virginal conceptions cannot both be "first".]
The evolutionary breakthrough could have far-reaching consequences for
*Method of reproduction where eggs become embryos without male fertilization.
1 comment:
Hahaha. Now if only they said the komodo dragon was above 30, then this would have been FANTASTIC news.
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