Scientists Document First-Ever Virgin Birth in Crocodile
Scientists have reported the first known case of a “virgin birth” in a female crocodile, according to a new study. The discovery offers “tantalizing insights” into the reproductive capabilities of archosaurs, which includes crocodilians, birds, pterosaurs, and dinosaurs. Read on to learn more about this groundbreaking study and what it means for the scientific community.
Background
Virgin birth, scientifically referred to as facultative parthenogenesis, is when an egg develops into an embryo without fertilization by sperm. The phenomenon has been observed in fish, frogs, lizards, birds, and some mammals. In recent years, we’ve even seen a shark and several snake species capable of virgin births.
The Discovery
The American crocodile, which is considered vulnerable and at risk of extinction in the wild, was taken into captivity in 2002 when she was 2 years old and placed in a Costa Rican zoo. She remained isolated for 16 years until 2018 when caretakers discovered that she had given birth to 14 eggs. What happened next is what makes this a historic moment in the world of scientific discovery.
The Findings
Researchers found that out of the 14 eggs, seven were viable, six contained “nothing discernible,” and one contained a fully formed, non-viable fetus. What’s more, genetic testing of the stillborn fetus found that it was 99.9% identical to the mother.
Significance
Warren Booth, the study’s lead author, said, “This new evidence offers tantalizing insights into the possible reproductive capabilities of extinct archosaurian relatives of crocodilians, notably the Pterosauria and Dinosauria.” He added that birds and crocodilians are the only remaining representatives of archosaurs, which shared a common ancestor some 250 million years ago.
Conclusion
The discovery of a virgin birth in a crocodile may seem irrelevant, but it opens up a broad range of possibilities and could help us better understand our evolutionary history. The fact that this phenomenon has been documented in a crocodilian suggests it could have been widespread throughout the archosaur evolutionary branch.
FAQ
Q1: What is the significance of this discovery?
A: This discovery provides insight into the reproductive capabilities of archosaurs, including crocodilians, birds, and dinosaurs. This phenomenon could have been widespread throughout the archosaur evolutionary branch.
Q2: Why is the American crocodile at risk of extinction?
A: The American crocodile is at risk of extinction due to habitat loss, hunting, and environmental changes.
Q3: Which other species are capable of virgin births?
A: Virgin births have been observed in fish, frogs, lizards, birds, and some mammals. Recent discoveries have also found sharks and several snake species capable of virgin births.
Q4: What is an archosaur?
A: Archosaurs are a group of diapsid reptiles that evolved over 250 million years ago and includes crocodilians, birds, pterosaurs, and dinosaurs.
Q5: How might this discovery help us better understand evolutionary history?
A: The discovery of a virgin birth in a crocodile suggests the phenomenon could have been widespread throughout the archosaur evolutionary branch, leading to a better understanding of the reproductive capabilities of extinct archosaurian relatives of crocodilians, notably the Pterosauria and Dinosauria.
