Anacondas born by virgin birth

Aquarium Biologist Tori Babson holds one of the two juvenile anacondas while talking with members of the media. photo via www.neaq.org Two Anacondas were recently born at the New England Aquarium from their all female exhibit. It was determined via DNA testing that the babies are the product of parthenogenesis, which means the female was able to reproduce without a male. This was only the second recorded parthenogenesis in Anacondas, the first in 2014 in the UK. From the New England Aquarium Blog:

Earlier this past winter, the newborn snakes were unexpectedly discovered by Aquarium staff in the rainforest exhibit. Biologists discovered in January that 8-year-old Anna, a 10-foot adult anaconda weighing about 30 pounds, was still in the process of delivering more young, most of which were stillborn, which is quite common in parthenogenesis among vertebrate species. Initially, three babies survived, but one died of within a couple of days. Since then, the other two juveniles have thrived.

To read the entire story, visit The New England Aquarium blog here.