Abstract
Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction by which embryos develop from unfertilized eggs. Parthenogenesis occurs in reptiles; however, it is not yet known to occur in the widespread elapid snakes (Elapidae), which include well-known taxa such as cobras, mambas, taipans and sea snakes. Here, we describe the production of viable parthenogens in two species of Australo-Papuan elapids with divergent reproductive modes: the oviparous coastal/Papuan taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) and the viviparous southern death adder (Acanthophis antarcticus). Analyses of nuclear SNP data excluded paternity for putative fathers and convincingly demonstrated asexual reproduction, thus representing the first evidence of facultative parthenogenesis in Elapidae. Our finding has broad implications for understanding the evolution of reproductive diversity in snakes, as well as managing the conservation of genetic diversity in wild and captive populations.
Highlights
Parthenogenesis is an asexual mode of reproduction by which embryos develop from unfertilized eggs
Records of FP in ‘advanced’ snakes indicate that fertility rates of litters/clutches containing parthenogens are low, often contain stillborns, and only male parthenogenetic offspring are produced as a result of ZW sex chromosome systems in these specie [3,7,8,9]
Our study robustly demonstrates multiple cases of FP resulting in viable male offspring in two species of elapids with different reproductive modes: the oviparous Papuan/coastal taipan and the viviparous southern death adder
Summary
Parthenogenesis is an asexual mode of reproduction by which embryos develop from unfertilized eggs. Facultative parthenogenesis (FP) appears to be more common and is found in snakes that reproduce sexually as well as asexually and have male/female populations [3]. Records of FP in ‘advanced’ snakes (caenophidians + colubroids) indicate that fertility rates of litters/clutches containing parthenogens are low, often contain stillborns, and only male parthenogenetic offspring are produced as a result of ZW sex chromosome systems (female heterogamety) in these specie [3,7,8,9]. We present genetic evidence of FP in two species of elapids with different reproductive modes: the oviparous Papuan/coastal taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) and viviparous southern death adder (Acanthophis antarcticus). The southern death adder occurs in temperate to tropical regions of southern and eastern Australia Both species are large bodied, highly venomous and medically significant. Our findings represent the first molecular verification of FP in the Elapidae and extend the current knowledge of FP in snakes
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