Virgin Crocodile Reproduces Asexually in First for Species

A female crocodile in Costa Rica gave birth to genetically identical offspring without mating.
The parthenogenesis occured when a polar body fused with an egg, creating an embryo with the necessary chromosomes.
Parthenogenesis has been observed in other reptiles, birds, and animals but never before in crocodiles.
The discovery suggests parthenogenesis may have also occurred in ancient crocodilians like dinosaurs and pterosaurs.
Two female California condors also successfully hatched eggs without mating, exhibiting facultative parthenogenesis.