Dragon's virgin births

[Flagg]

5 Komodo dragons born at British zoo By ROB HARRIS, Associated Press Writer
Wed Jan 24, 7:19 AM ET



"MANCHESTER, England - A British zoo announced Wednesday the virgin birth of five Komodo dragons, giving scientists new hope for the captive breeding of the endangered species.

In an evolutionary twist, the newborns' eight-year-old mother Flora shocked staff at Chester Zoo in northern England when she became pregnant without ever having a male partner or even being exposed to the opposite sex.

"Flora is oblivious to the excitement she has caused but we are delighted to say she is now a mum and dad," said a delighted Kevin Buley, the zoo's curator of lower vertebrates and invertebrates.

The shells began cracking last week, after an eight-month gestation period, which culminated with the arrival on Tuesday of the fifth black and yellow colored dragon.

The dragons are between 15.5 and 17.5 inches and weigh between 3.5 and 5.3 ounces, said Buley, who leads the zoo's expert care team.

He said the reptiles are in good health and enjoying a diet of crickets and locusts.

Other reptile species reproduce asexually in a process known as parthenogenesis. But Flora's virginal conception, and that of another Komodo dragon earlier this year at the London Zoo, are the first time it has been documented in a Komodo dragon.

The evolutionary breakthrough could have far-reaching consequences for endangered species.

Captive breeding could ensure the survival of the world's largest lizards, with fewer than 4,000 Komodos left in the wild.

Scientists hope the discovery will pave the way to finding other species capable of self fertilization.

While it wasn't unusual for female dragons to lay eggs without mating, scientists understood they were witnessing something important when they realized Flora's eggs had been fertilized.

DNA paternity tests confirmed the lack of male input, although the brood are not exact clones of their mother.

Parthenogenesis — where eggs become embryos without male fertilization — had only been noted once before in a Komodo dragon. Genetic tests showed that Sungai, a resident of London Zoo, was the sole parent to offspring last April."


Stuff like this fascinates me. I plan on doing a Degree in Animal Science or Welfare and Behaviour next year, need to do a Access Science course first this year. Seriously how can we hunt/destroy animals like this and other endagered species like this to death? For money? For sport? For land? I know nothing lives forever but this isn't natural selection, its murder by us.

What else is rather tragic is how most captive bred creatures can't be reintroduced back into the wild as the simply wouldn't survive.

[cfiler]

Cool.

[Fat Guy]

Immaculate Conception… Do you think they will name any of the dragons Jesus?

[zodiac666]

Immaculate Conception… Do you think they will name any of the dragons Jesus?

beat me to it you bstrd

[*Narkissos*]

^^ heathens

[beuleux]

One could argue that extinction of species IS natural selection, humans are an animal on this planet just like the others, dominant species have been wiping out other species for millions of years, human existance is a blink of an eye in comparison. Humans will be wiped out one day and something else will prevail, right before the sun explodes and wipes out all traces the earth was ever here... Whats it all been for?

[zodiac666]

One could argue that extinction of species IS natural selection, humans are an animal on this planet just like the others, dominant species have been wiping out other species for millions of years, human existance is a blink of an eye in comparison. Humans will be wiped out one day and something else will prevail, right before the sun explodes and wipes out all traces the earth was ever here... Whats it all been for?

are you trying to justify a cheat meal or something?

[RuhlFreak55]

that's sweet i love komodo dragons

[EcToMoRpHiAn]

are you trying to justify a cheat meal or something?

hahahahahah

[beuleux]

are you trying to justify a cheat meal or something?

Am I that transparant.. does the guilt show.