This iguana just gave birth to 8 babies and no male was involved: Scientists explain this rare case
Keepers at the Exotic Zoo in Telford were amazed to see how an iguana has given birth despite never having mated with a male.
A female casque-headed iguana at Telford’s Exotic Zoo in the UK gave birth to eight hatchlings without having any contact with a male. This rare event, often called a “virgin birth,” is due to a process called parthenogenesis.
Parthenogenesis allows an unfertilized egg to develop into an embryo. The offspring produced through this process are genetic clones of their mother. The zoo’s director, Scott Adams, expressed his shock and surprise, calling it “one of the rarest events in the animal kingdom.”
CBS NEWS🦎:An iguana at a zoo in the United Kingdom has given birth despite never having mated with a male, according to staff at the facility, who have hailed the "virgin birth" as "one of the rarest events in the animal kingdom."
— Melissa Hallman (@dotconnectinga) September 9, 2025
Keepers at the Exotic Zoo in Telford, in… pic.twitter.com/jjtzAxFWwk
The eight hatchlings are all female and are currently in the zoo’s specialist reptile nursery, where they receive round-the-clock care. The zoo hopes to eventually put them on public display, and two of the babies will be transferred to another zoo. This event provides a valuable educational opportunity for the zoo to discuss topics like genetics, evolution, and conservation with visitors.
#IguanaAwarenessDay :
— Art History Animalia (@ArtHistAnimalia) September 9, 2025
John White (c.1539-1593)
“Igwano” (#Iguana), 1585-93
Watercolour over graphite, heightened w/ white; H 144 x W 210 mm
🆔 Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana (Cyclura cychlura), endemic to the Bahamas.
🚨 IUCN Red List: Vulnerable@britishmuseum 1906,0509.1.71:… pic.twitter.com/677DChYXYW
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