Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I am wondering if anyone knows of any cases of Parthenogenesis in any snake species.
Also wondering, does anyone one what is the maximum time (in years) any snake species has been known to be able to retain sperm to sucessfully fertilize an egg in a future year.

>>Hi, I am wondering if anyone knows of any cases of Parthenogenesis in any snake species.
>> Also wondering, does anyone one what is the maximum time (in years) any snake species has been known to be able to retain sperm to sucessfully fertilize an egg in a future year.

Seems like there is some valid cases documented in Burmese Pythons. I have no ideas about retained sperm and all but I bought an adult candoia that continued to birth dead babies...fully formed, but since I never knew when they would come they got crushed....for over 18 months after I got her. She has never been near another snake in the couple three years I have had her.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

There are a lot of cases of questionable parthenogenesis in snakes where a captive snake has produced babies/eggs years after being around males. However, I don't know that any of those have been validated.

The Brahminy Blindsnake Rhamphotyphlops brahminus is the only truly parthenogenetic snake that I'm aware of.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

so Chris....how long is just retained sperm and how long parthenogenesis. I am trying to figure my candoia. I would not be surprised to find babies in with her again any time. Weird.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

I actually expected to see more replies to this topic than what I have. First I'll address the retention of sperm within the female. I have read that sperm can be retained within a female reptile for up to seven years. I honestly can't say how true it is although everyone I've spoken to about it that is of some authority has told me they are certain it's years anyhow.

Parthenogenesis???? That can become quite a contravercial subject. Many, many who claim their animal has had a virgin birth make this claim after they have had the animal without a mate for a few years.... Thus brings up your other question "sperm retention". Most people aren't aware of how long the sperm can be retained. Parthenogenesis can be proven by way of a DNA test. The offspring will all be replicas of the mothers DNA, and all males or females (I don't remember which). Testing is quite expensive so many retained sperm births are just Parthenogenesis claims. Parthenogenesis in snakes is so rare it's practically impossible to truly study from beginning to birth by the time it's over only study that can take place is the DNA testing. There are claims as to how it happens but I truly don't believe anyone really knows for sure. I actually have a theory that since a snake normally reaches maturity at aproximately two years and sperm can be retained for at least two years it's not completely impossible the snake was born/hatched with sperm retained from their own Sire. The DNA match could be explained by this beings the newborn is match of the mother and fathers DNA combined

Thanks for the replies and information.
I got to thinking about this topic when my Western Yellow-Bellied Racer laid eggs 3 weeks ago. She has been my captive(kept solitary) for 6.5 years now, so when I saw her laying eggs, I assumed they would all be infertile.
Well, 9 looked obviiously infertile (slimy, yellow,squarish in shape), but one looked good. So, just for the heck of it, I set it up to incubate. I set the other 9 up separately just to see what happened. The 9 molded up in a few days, the 1 good looking one is still looking good as of 3 weeks. I am not claiming anything, just trying to figure out how this egg might be fertile- but I have to wait and see if anything is really developing in it yet.

I find this topic interesting, and of course, I don't think anyone knows for sure what is going on. The idea of one batch of sperm deposited in a female 6.5 years ago and still living now may be a possibility, but I don't know if anyone has tested for that. Where is the sperm held for all that time? How is it kept alive without cold temperatures?

Makes the idea of parthenogenesis seem like an equal candidate for conjecture.
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Mark

update on that egg- it incubated beautifully for over 10 weeks. No mold, no smell, good color and shape. The only think I ever noticed about this egg that seemed off from good eggs was that it felt slightly different. Finally I slit it open... nothing but yolk. But it didnt even stink when I cut it open. Strange.

Here is a nice article on true parthenogenesis in a snake, as tested with DNA fingerprinting:

home.pcisys.net/~dlblanc/articles/Parthenogenesis.php
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Mark