CHENNAI: A female Morelet’s crocodile, kept in isolation at the Madras Crocodile Bank for three years, suddenly laid two fertile eggs about three weeks ago, pricking the curiosity of herpetologists as the phenomenon has been hitherto unknown in this particular species.
Two of the 34 eggs in the latest litter developed a band – a sign of an embryo inside – two days after they were laid, said Nikil Whitaker, curator of the crocodile bank, where the Morelet’s crocodile – code name 204 – had been laying infertile eggs every season ever since she was put in solitary confinement there in May 2007.
‘Croc 204’ was taken out of the enclosure where it was housed with another male and female Morelet’s after the bigger female turned aggressive and started attacking the 2.9 metre long reptile, Whitaker said.
The rare occurrence was suspected to be due to either ‘sperm storage’ or ‘parthenogenesis’ (reproduction without a male) but Whitaker said, “There is no documented proof of such an occurrence anywhere in the world. Only certain reptile species like the American Alligator can store sperms but not for more than one-and-a-half years. Parthenogenesis has been spotted in reptiles like Komodor Dragon but never in Morelet’s. Once the eggs hatch, after 60 to 80 days, we will take blood samples and do a DNA test. If the genes turn out to be only female then it is a case of extraordinary parthenogenesis but if we find male genes too then it is a case of sperm storage.”
Adam Britton, noted crocodile expert in Australia, however, said that three years was a peculiarly long time for sperm storage – a world record. “Parthenogenesis might not be far-fetched,” he observed.
