A boa constrictor nicknamed “Ronaldo” has given birth to 14 baby snakes in Portsmouth, England, although it was thought to be male.
An incredible story. In England, a snake that was thought to be male gave birth to 14 baby snakes. This 13-year-old rainbow boa constrictor, called “Ronaldo” because it is Brazilian, had no mate with whom to breed in his vivarium. She had not had any contact with a male snake in her last nine years at Portsmouth University.
This is a very rare case of parthenogenesis, which is the act of reproducing “alone” without the intervention of a male, since the embryos develop on their own in the female. This is only the third time in history that this phenomenon has occurred for a Brazilian rainbow boa constrictor: “I’ve been breeding snakes for 50 years and I’ve never seen this happen before,” Pete Quinlan, a reptile specialist who has had Ronaldo for 9 years, told the Guardian.
Ronaldo had gained weight recently
In recent weeks, Ronaldo had gained weight. A change which, however, did not alert its owner: “Ronaldo looked bigger than usual, as if he had eaten a big meal, but we never thought only moment that he, or should we say she, was pregnant,” says Pete Quinlan. “This is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn more about the development of baby snakes,” he concludes.
For now, Pete Quinlan will care for the 14 baby snakes until they reach adulthood and are sent to new families.
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