Virgin births
discovered in wild snakes
By Jeremy Coles Reporter, BBC Nature
A form of virgin birth has been found in wild vertebrates
for the first time. Researchers in the US caught pregnant females from two
snake species and genetically analysed the litters. That proved the North
American pit vipers reproduced without a male, a phenomenon called facultative
parthenogenesis that has previously been found only in captive species.Scientists
say the findings could change our understanding of animal reproduction and
vertebrate evolution. It was thought to be extremely rare for a normally sexual
species to reproduce asexually. First identified in domestic chickens, such
"virgin births" have been reported in recent years in a few snake,
shark, lizard and bird species.
Read rest here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19555550
So for all those who
say cryptids must have a breeding population..you could be wrong. It appears it
is possible to have just one or two females who have virgin births to continue
the species. Maybe Nessie is female after all.
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