Question about Eggs

[Bogertophis]

Wow! That is fascinating. Slightly off topic from the original question, but would the offspring of a parthenogenetic clutch be genetically identical to the mother? Basically like a bunch of little clones? Would they be visually identical to the mother too? That is SO interesting, I didn't know that was possible!

Not quite. It used to be thought they would be clones, but it's more complicated than that & "above my pay grade" to explain. Search & you'll see...

Many years ago, an older rosy boa that I took in from a museum (long-term captive there) had an offspring (it was assumed) via parthenogenesis, sadly with many defects from which she passed at the age of 8 months. She was so small & weak when born, I was amazed that she lived past the first week, but by 8 mos. I was really pulling for her.

And I currently have 2.2 c/b Florida rat snakes (yellow x gulf hammock x ?) that I've had for over 10 years (about 1.5 yrs old when I took them in) & every year both females lay double clutches of eggs, some of which are obvious slugs but many of which "appear" to be good eggs. Last summer, I decided to incubate the "good" eggs and 3 of them HATCHED! One has spinal defects but all are eating & thriving, & all are different in appearance. Now I am assuming these are the result of parthenogenesis (again, it has not been scientifically proven by tests) but if they're not, then that's gotta be the longest retention of viable sperm/unplanned mating (at age 1.5 yrs)...? These snakes (now big adults) have never mated since they've been with me...they don't even live in the same room, much less hang out in the same cages for any contact. By the way, there were several other fully-formed snakes that failed to successfully emerge from their eggs, & while one was visibly defective, the others appeared quite normal, though you cannot always tell from appearances...internal abnormalities may also happen. I do wish these adult females would quit doing this...the first clutches are typically 20-27 eggs, & the second clutch is somewhere in the mid-teens, from EACH of them. I'll let you know if I ever find their "off" switch, lol.