Declared male nine years ago by a vet, Ronaldo, the 6ft (1.8m) Brazilian rainbow boa gave birth to 14 baby snakes despite having had no contact with other snakes. Scientists say it is thanks to a rare phenomenon called parthenogenesis.
Ronaldo, the “male” snake, has given birth to 14 babies, shocking handlers.
The 6ft (1.8m) Brazilian rainbow boa was declared male nine years ago by a vet.
Since then “he” had had no contact with other snakes – spending the last two years in the City of Portsmouth College.
But, during a routine check, a student discovered Ronaldo had given birth to 14 baby snakes.
“We couldn’t believe our eyes,” animal care technician Amanda McLeod said. “One of the students discovered them during a routine vivarium check.
“At first we thought she must have been mistaken.”
Rare phenomenon
