Licenced by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, under the
European Communities (Licensing and Inspection of Zoos) Regulations, 2003 (S.I. no.
440 of 2003).
Demesne Road, Gowran, Co. Kilkenny
056 7726 757        [email protected]
Ireland's Only Reptile Zoo!
This is our female Ornate Forest
monitor, named Nice (she's just a
fraction friendlier than her sister,
called nasty!). Recently, she laid 21
eggs. This isn't so unusual, as
reptiles, like chickens, can lay eggs
without the presence of a male.
However, these eggs will be
infertile, and a male will be needed
to produce viable offspring.
Out of habit and
curiosity, we placed
the eggs in our
incubator. Our female
has been in our
possession for over 10
years, since she was a
little hatchling. Since
that time, the only other
monitor that she's been
in contact with has
been the other female
that we have here on
display, who also
frequently lays eggs for
us.
First viable embryo
After about 100 days
most of the eggs
looked like they were
starting to rot. At this
point we decided we
would get rid of the
eggs. On opening one,
to our amazement, we
discovered a living
embryo inside.
Unfortunately exposing
the embryo at such an
early stage meant it
didn't survive. We put
back the remaining
good eggs back in the
incubator.
Fully formed young
After another 100 days
remaining good egg
started to smell. At to
open the egg. We
discovered a fully
formed baby lizard
who had completely
absorbed his yoke
sac. He had been too
egg. The baby was
physically sexed as a
male.
The ability to reproduce a
male has never been
species before. It is a
survival technique
usually employed by
much simpler forms of
life. In the wild this
would allow a female
monitor to repopulate an
area by herself, ensuring
the survival of her
species. Monitor lizards
are like the primates of
the reptile world, the top
of the evolutionary
ladder. This is yet
another weapon in their
arsenal.
Link to the full published article - varanidae.org/Vol4_No1_Hennessy.pdf