--- title: "Jesus Crocodile Conceived With No Father" description: "Scientists have confirmed through genetic testing that an 18-year-old female crocodile impregnated herself without a male mate." date: "2023-06-11" modified: "2023-06-11" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/jesus-crocodile-conceived" categories: - "Science & Energy" tags: - "asexual reproduction" - "crocodile" - "reptiles" - "the digest" --- # Jesus Crocodile Conceived With No Father ![Scientists have confirmed through genetic testing that an 18-year-old female crocodile impregnated herself without a male mate.]() *\Image: Getty / Futurism\* ## Crocodile Christ Behold, the immaculate crocodile! An international team of scientists has confirmed through genetic testing that an 18-year-old female crocodile housed at a Costa Rican zoo impregnated herself without a male mate — the first time that such a discovery has been recorded and studied, according to the researchers. As detailed in a [research article]() published in the journal *Biology Letters*, the baby croc was a 99.9 percent genetic match for its mother, meaning that no other crocodiles could have been involved in the conception of the hatchling. Though the fetus was fully formed, the "virgin birth" crocodile was sadly stillborn and thus never actually hatched, [according to the *BBC*.]() But it's an exciting finding nonetheless, and one that researchers say might shed some light on the reproductive habits of crocodiles' ancient dinosaur ancestors. ## Croc Files Surprisingly, this behavior — referred to within the scientific community as facultative parthenogenesis — isn't rare within the animal kingdom, especially in animals with evolutionary links back to the age of the dinosaurs. '"We see it in sharks, birds, snakes, and lizards and it is remarkably common and widespread," Virginia Tech entomology professor Warren Booth, who led the study, told the *BBC.* And importantly, Booth also thinks this likely isn't the first case of parthenogenesis in crocodiles *ever* — just the first one on record that humans have sought out and paid attention to. ''There was a big increase in reports of parthenogenesis when people started keeping pet snakes," Booth told the *BBC*. "But your average reptile keeper doesn't keep a crocodile." ## The More You Know There are different theories as to why a species might evolve to be able to reproduce without a male. One leading theory, as the *BBC* notes, is that it might allow a species to reproduce when its population numbers are threatened. Regardless of why, Booth says the fact that the behavior has been officially recorded in crocs and other animals at all is significant. ''The fact that the mechanism of parthenogenesis is the same in so many different species suggests that it is a very ancient trait that has been inherited throughout the ages," Booth told the *BBC*. "So this supports the idea that dinosaurs could also reproduce this way." **More on reptiles:** [*Internet Stunned by Colossal “Chonkasaurus” Turtle Spotted in River*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()