Two wild female pit-viper snakes—a copperhead and a cottonmouth—gave birth to fatherless litters, according to researchers at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma.
The phenomenon of spawning without male contribution—known as parthenogenesis—is common in invertebrates, such as ants. Scientists have also observed it in vertebrates before, including fish, lizards, birds, and snakes, but it’s rare and only seen when animals are captive or when no males are present.
Yet, the two virgin mother snakes were not only wild, but found in populations with males, researchers reported in the study published last week (September 12) in Biology Letters. Further, scientists found the virgins in relatively small collections of pregnant females—just 22 copperheads and 37 cottonmouths—hinting that parthenogenesis may be more common than previously thought.
“I think the frequency is what really shocked us,” Tulsa biologist and lead author Warren Booth told BBC News. “That's quite remarkable for something that has been ...
