California condors can have 'virgin births,' study finds

Researchers said they believe it is the first case of asexual reproduction in any avian species where the female had access to a mate.

Oct 29, 2021

Endangered California condors can have “virgin births,” according to a study released Thursday.

Researchers with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said genetic testing confirmed that two male chicks hatched in 2001 and 2009 from unfertilized eggs were related to their mothers. Neither was related to a male.

The study was published Thursday in the the Journal of Heredity. It’s the first report of asexual reproduction in California condors, although parthenogenesis can occur in other species ranging from sharks to honey bees to Komodo dragons.

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/scie...finds-rcna4087

https://news.yahoo.com/endangered-ca...064807982.html