| consecutive virgin births in the new world boid snake, the colombian rainbow boa, epicrates maurus. | until recently, facultative automictic parthenogenesis within the squamate reptiles exhibiting zz:zw genetic sex determination has resulted in single reproductive events producing male (zz) or female (zw) offspring. with the recent discovery of viable parthenogenetically produced female (ww) boa constrictors, the existence of further parthenogenetic events resulting in ww females was questioned. here, we provide genetic evidence for consecutive virgin births by a female colombian rainbow boa (ep ... | 2011 | 21868391 |
| protein catabolism in pregnant snakes (epicrates cenchria maurus boidae) compromises musculature and performance after reproduction. | in many species the high energetic demands of reproduction induce a negative energy balance, and thus females must rely on tissue catabolism to complete the reproductive process. previous works have shown that both fat and protein are energy resources during prolonged fasting in vertebrates. while many ecological studies on energy costs of reproduction have focused on variations in fat stores, the impact of protein investment on the female has not been thoroughly investigated. notably, as there ... | 2004 | 15088116 |