It's thought to be very rare in ball pythons, but determining any more accurately than that would be difficult, as some snake species have been observed to have parthenogenetic offspring years after having sexually produced offspring. The difference between these was proven via DNA testing to rule out sperm retention. However, it has also been proven via DNA testing that parthenogenesis occurs in the Burmese python, so it's a fairly safe assumption that ball pythons can reproduce in this manner.
It's possible that more specific information will come out in the coming years, as it has just recently been shown that Boidae and Pythonidae have the XY system of inheritance (homozygous females) vs the ZW system (heterozygous females). That means that many of the previous theories as to how parthenogenesis was occurring in many of these species were incorrect. The current belief is that snake families that produce females only with parthenogenesis - Alethinophidia (incl. blind snakes), Boidae and Pythonidae - are XY while snake families that produce males only with parthenogenesis - Colubroidea (incl. colubrids, elapids, and vipers) - are ZW.
Obligate parthenogenesis is found in brahminy blind snakes, which are triploid and all female.
Reply With Quote