A crocodile ‘virgin birth’ has shed light on dinosaur reproduction. 

An 18-year-old American crocodile has become the first documented reptile to achieve a “virgin birth”, or parthenogenesis. 

Found in her enclosure at a Costa Rican wildlife park, a clutch of eggs materialised without any interaction with a male counterpart. 

The reptile, living a solitary existence for her entire life, managed to bypass traditional reproduction and develop a fully formed foetus identical to herself. 

This revelation marks the first-known instance of parthenogenesis in crocodilians, a group encompassing crocodiles, alligators, and gharials.

Scientists are now captivated by the potential insights into the reproductive capabilities of long-extinct archosaurs, including dinosaurs and pterosaurs. 

Dr Warren Booth, lead author of the study, says; “If this mechanism is found in reptiles, which are evolutionarily older than the archosaurs...then it tells us that dinosaurs and pterosaurs very likely reproduced using this mechanism as well.”

While parthenogenesis is common in invertebrates like ants and bees, it remains rare in vertebrates. 

However, recent advancements have revealed its occurrence in over 80 animal species, including birds, fish, and lizards. 

The phenomenon challenges the need for sexual reproduction and offers evolutionary benefits such as genetic variation. Yet, the lack of genetic diversity in parthenogenetic populations makes them more vulnerable to diseases and environmental threats.

Scientists are eager to decipher the triggers for parthenogenesis and comprehend its evolutionary history. 

With modern crocodiles descending from archosaurs - the “ruling reptiles” - and dinosaurs evolving from the same lineage, the discovery of parthenogenesis in crocs presents a missing link in the reproductive journey. 

Unfortunately, due to the absence of DNA from extinct species, unravelling the true extent of this phenomenon among dinosaurs remains an open question.

While the mysteries persist, one thing is clear: the tale of the virgin crocodile births has unleashed a Jurassic enigma, offering a reminder that nature's surprises are not confined to the past.