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World-First Snake Born From 'Frozen Zoo' Samples In Tennessee

Memphis Zoo has successfully produced the first-ever reptile offspring using cryopreserved (frozen) semen and artificial insemination—a major leap forward in reptile conservation science.

On Tuesday, three tiny Louisiana pinesnakes took their first slithers in this world, after more than five years of research that made their births possible. Pinesnakes are classified as threatened by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and may become endangered soon.

"The emergence of these three hatchlings summed up five years of reproductive research and 30 years of Memphis Zoo's use of cutting-edge science and dedication to save the Louisiana pinesnake from extinction," Beth Roberts, senior reproductive scientist at Memphis Zoo, said in a statement.

"This achievement brought us one step closer to routinely integrating assisted reproductive technology into reptile conservation to preserve genetics and save species," she said.

A Louisiana pinesnake has been artificially inseminated using frozen semen at Memphis Zoo. The milestone marks a world-first in conservation, not just for this threatened species of snake, but for species the world over. A Louisiana pinesnake has been artificially inseminated using frozen semen at Memphis Zoo. The milestone marks a world-first in conservation, not just for this threatened species of snake, but for species the world over. Memphis Zoo

Typically spending most of its time underground in central and western Louisiana, as well as eastern Texas, the Louisiana pinesnake is a non-venemous constrictor. They are dependent on the Baird's pocket gopher as a food source, whose habitat has been gradually eroded ever since the 1930s.

Today, Louisiana pinesnake populations are small and fragmented, making them vulnerable to extreme weather events and disease. As populations have shrunk, gene pools have become too similar, harming the snake's ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

The work of Memphis' science team is part of the zoo's ongoing Louisiana Pinesnake Species Recovery Program, a project dedicated to the survival of this imperiled species through innovative scientific methods.

Historically, conservation efforts using "Frozen Zoo" techniques—where genetic material is preserved through freezing—have focused primarily on mammals, birds, and more recently, amphibians, with reptiles often being overlooked.

"I would hail it as an important advance in the conservation of reptiles, which are not normally high on the public's list of species needing protection," Mark O'Shea, professor of herpetology at the University of Wolverhampton in the U.K., told Newsweek.

"In a world where [mammoth-elephant hybrids] are considered a possibility, surely using artificial insemination to reproduce an endangered snake species would seem a no-brainer concept," he said. "Well played by the Memphis Zoo team for starting the ball rolling, but this would, of course, only be possible for species from which sperm has been collected and frozen, so species like the Round Island burrowing boa are still lost."

A map shows the location of Memphis Zoo, in Tennessee.

Despite being unable to revive already extinct species, this latest achievement highlights the potential of biobanking and assisted reproductive technologies to play a vital role in future reptile conservation worldwide.

The zoo's team meticulously collected, froze and later thawed the semen, which was then used to inseminate a female Louisiana pinesnake. The resulting offspring, confirmed to be sired by the donor male through genetic testing, set a new precedent in the field of reptile conservation.

"We see this success as a huge step forward to enable future efforts to improve the genetic health of this species and other threatened reptile species," Tonia Schwartz, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Auburn University, who carried out the genetic testing, said in a statement.

"Memphis Zoo is setting an example for the global community," Mark Sandfoss, who spearheaded the research, said in a statement. "We've shown that it's possible to use cryopreserved genetic material to aid in the recovery of an endangered species, paving the way for similar efforts with other reptile species in the future."

The zoo plans to continue its pioneering work in reptile conservation, building on this success and collaborating with other institutions worldwide to expand these techniques to other endangered reptiles.

"Today, the future of endangered reptiles got a little brighter," director of conservation & research at Memphis Zoo, Steve Reichling, said.

Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about reptiles? Let us know via science@newsweek.Com.


Giant Python Caught Swallowing Even Bigger Snake Alive In World First

Scientists in Bangladesh have documented a 10-foot-long Burmese python swallowing alive a reticulated python, an unprecedented encounter involving two of the world's largest snake species.

Wildlife researchers at the Akiz Wildlife Farm in Chittagong spotted the Burmese python coiling tightly around the other snake and swallowing it up from its tail.

It took the python about two hours to devour its prey completely, according to a report published in the journal Reptiles and Amphibians recently.

The incident took place in October 2020.

The reticulated python sought to defend itself by constricting the Burmese python but loosened its grip after it was subjugated, scientists said.

Burmese python eating larger reticulated python on Bangladesh wildlife farm (Adnan Azad/Reptiles & Amphibians)

Scientists are perplexed by the behaviour as the wildlife farm had better food options available for both snakes.

They suspect a territorial dispute may have led to one python eating the other.

The Burmese python and the reticulated python are the only types of python found in Bangladesh and they are both on the United Nation's Red List of threatened species.

The Burmese python grows up to 16 feet long and is found across Bangladesh. The reticulated python, the world's longest, can grow up to 22 feet and is found in the eastern regions of Sylhet and Chittagong.

The border region in Chittagong between India and Myanmar is a biodiversity hotspot that is home to many species, including the two pythons.

This area is also home to lizards, rodents, monkeys, small carnivores, deer, and wild boar, all of which are potential prey for the snakes.

French zoo workers hold a reticulated python (AFP via Getty)

Both pythons, native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, are found mostly in forest regions and occasionally in gardens and farms.

Scientists counted the chickens living on the Akiz Wildlife Farm and found that none had been eaten by either snake.

Young Burmese pythons seen at an enclosure in Alipore Zoological Garden, Kolkata (AFP via Getty Images)

Based on these observations, scientists suspect that the rare incident was likely sparked by a fight for territory.

"To the best of our knowledge, this observation represents the first documented predation of M reticulatus by P bivittatus," they said.


WATCH: Alligator Hunter Searches Crockery Lake For Rumored Reptile

CHESTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The lake was small enough for rumors of a reptile to spread and big enough for the reptile to remain exactly that — a rumor.

For almost all of August, the nooks and crannies of Crockery Lake have been searched for an alligator, believed to be swimming in the residential body of water after it was released from captivity as a pet.

Those living on the Ottawa County lake have faith in its existence, swearing to have seen the gator themselves, corroborating their accounts with grainy photos shared to Facebook. The small town story has gone viral on TikTok, they say.

READ MORE: Possible alligator spotted in Ottawa County's Crockery Lake

"I do believe there's a gator out there," said one resident, the treasurer of the Crockery Lake Association.

"This can turn into another Nessie thing," said another. She wore a bright green 'Croc-kery Lake' t-shirt, custom made for the return of one of the lake's own: Dan Rooks, a hobby alligator hunter who grew up on Crockery and later moved to Florida as an adult. He traveled north upon hearing the rumors, thinking he could help.

Crockery Lake

Captured earlier this month, many residents on Crockery Lake believe the thin, dark figure near the top of the photo is an alligator.

FOX 17

"Florida man returns," he said. "If there's somebody that's going to [catch] it, I'm going to be the one."

On Thursday, Rooks met with residents of the lake before beginning a nighttime search, his second that week.

"I got to say it's the thrill," Rooks told FOX 17. "The thrill of being able to be up close with something that's essentially a dinosaur. This thing has been on the planet for millions of years. It's relatively unchanged."

Crockery Lake

FOX 17

When darkness fell, Rooks and his pontoon boat crew — a collection of local friends and residents — pulled out flashlights, shining them along the edges of the lake. A pair of red, glinting eyes were their prize.

"They keep their temperature better in the water, honestly," said Rooks, pointing his beam beneath docks and shore stations. Intermittently, he also played a series of alligator calls, trying to attract the reptile to the boat.

Crockery Lake

FOX 17

Several hours and laps around the lake later, they had still seen nothing. It was nearly midnight.

"Didn't work out for us," Rooks said. "Doesn't mean that it's not here. There's still a chance that it is."

Crockery Lake

FOX 17

While Rooks plans to search the lake many more times during his stay in Michigan, the summertime tales now shared by this community are real, regardless of whether the alligator is found or fictional.

"I've seen a community come together in a way that I haven't seen before," Rooks said. "Which is nice."

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Copyright 2024 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.





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