View this post on Instagram A post shared by Exotic Zoo (@exotic_zoo_)
A British zoo announced the hatching of eight iguana babies with an unusual parentage — they have no father.
The Exotic Zoo in Telford, England, said the female casque-headed iguana laid a clutch of fertilized eggs, despite having never shared an enclosure with a male of her species.
The eggs hatched in late August and the zoo is now caring for eight babies, which are all genetic clones of their mother.
“These little lizards have no dad at all — they’re being born through parthenogenesis,” the zoo said on social media. “This means the babies are genetic clones of their mum — an amazing rare natural phenomenon that occurs in some reptiles, invertebrates and other animals.”
Scott Adams, the zoo’s director, hailed the hatchings as “one of the rarest events in the animal kingdom” in a statement provided to CBS News.
“When we confirmed the eggs were fertile without any contact with a male, our jaws hit the floor. These babies are essentially mini-mum clones, and seeing them thrive is incredible. For us, it’s a powerful reminder that life finds a way in the most unexpected circumstances,” Adams said.
The hatchlings are currently being cared for in the zoo’s reptile nursery and are expected to make their public debut in the coming weeks.
“For us, it’s a powerful reminder that life finds a way in the most unexpected circumstances,” Adams told the BBC.
