A python that lived alone for 9 years unexpectedly gave birth to 14 offspring.

A male Brazilian rainbow python named Ronaldo, living alone in an enclosure at Portsmouth City College in England, has surprised many by unexpectedly giving birth.

A student from Portsmouth College, while conducting a routine inspection and cleaning of Ronaldo's python enclosure, was surprised to discover 14 baby pythons inside.

"We were very surprised and couldn't believe our eyes. At first, we thought we were seeing things, but when we checked closely, they really were baby snakes born to Ronaldo," shared Amanda McLeod, one of the people in charge of caring for Ronaldo's pythons.

Trăn sống đơn độc 9 năm bất ngờ sinh 14 con - 1 — Fourteen hatchlings were found in the enclosure of Ronaldo's rainbow python, even though the python has been identified as male and has lived alone for the past nine years (Photo: PA).

Pete Quinlan, a reptile expert working at Portsmouth College, was called in to investigate. He said he was also shocked by what had happened.

"I've been raising different kinds of snakes for 50 years and I've never seen anything like this before," Quinlan shared. "The baby pythons are carbon copies of their mother, although the patterns are slightly different. Ronaldo did gain weight for a while, but we all think it was because he ate too much, not because he was pregnant."

Mr. Quinlan has been caring for Ronaldo for the past nine years, after the python was found abandoned on the street by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – a British charity dedicated to animal protection. Prior to that, the animal appeared to have been someone's pet.

It was only after discovering the baby pythons that Mr. Quinlan re-checked the sex of the python Ronaldo and realized they had been mistaken about its sex all along. Ronaldo is a female python, not a male as many had initially believed.

"This is a great opportunity for students to learn about the development of baby pythons," Quinlan added.

Mr. Quinlan is busy determining the sexes of 14 baby pythons and preparing new enclosures for them. Once the young pythons mature, they will be moved to their new homes.

Speaking about the phenomenon of pythons giving birth without mating, Quinlan described it as "a miraculous birth" and a rare example of parthenogenesis, a natural form of asexual reproduction that does not require fertilization.

Parthenogenesis commonly occurs in some plants, insects, reptiles, and invertebrates. Although very rare in vertebrates, it occasionally occurs in some species of snakes, lizards, sharks, and birds.

Parthenogenesis helps some species to reproduce in situations where finding a mate is difficult.

The case of Ronaldo's python mentioned above marks the third time the Brazilian rainbow python species has been recorded reproducing spontaneously in captivity without mating.

The Brazilian rainbow boa ( scientific name Epicrates cenchria) is a non-venomous reptile known for its scales that shimmer in the light. Thanks to this unique scale pattern, the Brazilian rainbow boa is a popular pet.

Trăn sống đơn độc 9 năm bất ngờ sinh 14 con - 2

This is a species of python native to Central and South America, distributed in countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador. These pythons typically live in humid tropical forests, rainforests, and riverside areas. They enjoy climbing trees and are excellent swimmers.

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