Virgin birth or hanky-panky? Anteater mom sparks a scientific debate.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

In the words of George Takei, "Oooh my!" (Edit to add pic)

By Alan Boyle, Science Editor, NBC News

Is it a case of anteater virgin birth, a hormonal quirk or just some desperate hanky-panky? Whatever it is, Armani the anteater's surprising pregnancy has sparked a debate over what animals are capable of when it comes to sex.

The story unfolded at the LEO Zoological Conservation Center in Greenwich, Conn.: Last month, Armani gave birth to a cute baby pup named Archie. The only problem was, Archie wasn't supposed to exist.

Armani already had given birth last August to a female pup named Alice, fathered by a male anteater at the center named Alf. Anteater dads have been known to kill off their progeny, so Alf was put in a separate pen for several months. Marcella Leone, the nonprofit center's founder and director, said Armani and Alf shouldn't have had the opportunity to conceive little Archie.

You WILL want to read more @ http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/17/18323610-virgin-birth-or-hanky-panky-anteater-mom-sparks-a-scientific-debate?lite

[alarimer]

1. The should DNA test the zookeepers.

Seriously, though, parthenogenesis does happen. Some frog species are entirely female.

But I've never heard of it in mammals.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

2. They think is was something called embryonic diapause.

But if you go down past the pic I used to read on, they start talking about parthenogenesis.

So their guess should be way better than mine.

[d_r]

3. who knew they were so randy

"If they were together, it was long enough," she said. "When doing a re-introduction between our breeding pair, we had planned on taking it slow and safe. We were going to put them together for five minutes and then separate them. At three minutes they were copulating."

[RILib]

4. amazing looking animals

I had no idea they were that big.

I thought in parthenogenesis the result would be female...

[Lady Freedom Returns]

5. This seems to be breaking many a rule.

They will be looking into this one for a while I think!


Maybe it will help us to unlock the reason for Republicans!

[HeiressofBickworth]

6. I had a poodle once

who got pregnant. How? Beats me. She was never outside of the completely fenced back yard unless she was with me and was on a leash. I checked the fence perimeter to see where some other dog could have come in, but never found an opening. She had one little puppy. We named it "Surprise."