DNA-validated parthenogenesis: first case in a captive female Cuban boa (Chilabothrus angulifer)

Parthenogenesis is a biological process of asexual reproduction. Recent studies have highlighted the significance of this fascinating phenomenon in the vertebrate evolution. Although parthenogenetic reproduction appears to be widespread among reptiles, a restricted number of cases were reported in captivity and wild. Here, we studied and reported an intriguing case of a 20-year old captive female Cuban boa (Chilabothrus angulifer), from the Zoo da Maia (Maia, Portugal) collection, isolated from conspecifics males, that gave birth twice in 4 years. The neonates from both deliveries, one fresh and the other fixed in formalin, were submitted to histopathological and molecular genetic analysis. Both neonates were homozygous for the loci analyzed, carrying only mother alleles. Furthermore, morphological abnormalities (anophthalmia) were observed in the second neonate. Our data support a pattern of parthenogenetic reproduction. This is the first documented case of facultative parthenogenesis in a Cuban boa, which can be of great interest for further research on ecology, evolution, captive breeding and conservation of the species.