- Brazilian Rainbow snake was presumed to be male
- Birth is down to rare phenomenon called parthenogenesis
- Only third known instance in this breed of snake in the world
A presumed male snake, who has had no contact with other snakes for nine years, stunned staff at a college in England recently by giving birth to 14 snakelets.
Ronaldo, a 13-year-old six-foot Brazilian Rainbow Boa snake, had been presumed to be male by staff at City of Portsmouth College in England, where she lives.
However, during a routine vivarium check, one of the students discovered the babies. “At first we thought she must have been mistaken,” said animal care technician Amanda McLeod. “We couldn’t believe our eyes!”
Natural phenomenon
The births are down to a phenomenon called parthenogenesis, an extremely rare but natural form of asexual reproduction where embryos develop without fertilisation. It is thought to be just the third instance involving a captive Brazilian Rainbow Boa in the world.
“I’ve been breeding snakes for 50 years and I’ve never known this happen before,” said City of Portsmouth College reptile specialist Pete Quinlan. “Effectively the babies are clones of their mother although their markings are all slightly different.
“Ronaldo had been looking slightly fatter than usual, like he’d eaten a big meal, but we never thought for a moment that he, or should we say she, was pregnant.”
Opportunity to learn
Ronaldo has lived at the College for the past two years, where she has been popular with staff and students alike. Quinlan adds that Ronaldo now provides students with a fantastic opportunity to learn about the development of baby snakes.
Quinlan is also now trying to work out what sex the babies are – not an easy process, as the case of Ronaldo shows – and setting up 14 new vivaria. When the snakes are old enough, they will be found new homes.
