A Brazilian rainbow boa kept at the City of Portsmouth College in Tudor Crescent, Portsmouth, United Kingdom, has given birth to 12 babies via parthenogenesis, marking the second time she has given birth without the aid of a male snake.
A Brazilian rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria cenchria) kept at the City of Portsmouth College in Tudor Crescent, Portsmouth, United Kingdom, has given birth to 12 babies via parthenogenesis, marking the second time she has given birth without the aid of a male snake. The 14-year-old snake, named Ronaldo, gave birth to 14 snakes in 2024 via parthengenesis. This marks the fourth documented case in which a Brazilian rainbow boa reproduced via parthenogenesis, the college said in a news story announcing the births.
“I’ve done as much research as I can and I can’t find any record of it happening twice,” Pete Quinlan, animal care technician at COPC said. “I had my suspicions for a couple of weeks and then suddenly she was showing all the signs.”
“She was mine for nine years before she came here,” Quinlan said. “And it’s almost time for her to retire and come back to me. She’s clearly had a great time at COPC – for parthenogenesis to happen, the conditions have to be perfect. Which I think is a great testament to the facilities we have here.”
Brazilian Rainbow Boa Births 14 Baby Snakes via Parthenogenesis
Reptiles Conceived via Parthenogenesis
A variety of species have conceived via parthenogenesis, including Komodo dragons, Asian water dragons, Anacondas, reticulated pythons, New Caledonian giant geckos, and more. According to the college, this is the fourth documented case of parthenogenesis in Brazilian rainbow boas.
Brazilian rainbow boas are so named due to the beautiful sheen they exude when light shines upon them. It is the most commonly kept subspecies of rainbow boa in captivity. Males grow to about 5 feet in length while females are larger, capable of reaching 6 to 7 feet in length. Their coloration ranges from orange to a dark red with orange and red saddles traversing their backs. Largely nocturnal, the Brazilian rainbow boa are ambush predators.
