Skip to comments.
111-year-old reptile becomes a dad
Metro.Co.UK ^
| Monday, January 26, 2009
| Metro.Co.UK
Posted on 01/26/2009 6:42:34 PM PST by DogByte6RER
111-year-old reptile becomes a dad
Monday, January 26, 2009
A reptile in New Zealand has unexpectedly become a father at the ripe old age of 111 - after receiving treatment for a cancer which had made him hostile toward prospective mates.
That consummation that resulted in 11 babies being hatched on Monday.
Tuatara are indigenous New Zealand creatures that resemble lizards, but are actually descended from a seperate lineage of reptiles that walked the earth with the dinosaurs 225 million years ago.
An endangered species, the hatchlings born at the Southland Museum and Art Gallery will provide a badly needed boost to the tuatara's genetic diversity, said the gallery's tuatara curator, Lindsay Hazley.
Henry was at least 70 years old when he arrived at the museum, 'a grumpy old man' who attacked other reptiles, including females. He stayed that way until a cancerous tumor was removed from his genitals in 2002, said Hazley.
'I went off the idea he was good for breeding,' Hazley told The Associated Press, but once the tumor was removed, 'he was no longer aggressive.'
The museum now has 72 of the reptiles after 42 hatchings in the past two years.
Hazley hopes to use Henry regularly in the breeding program that is helping expand tuatara numbers, after their population had been dramatically reduced by predators.
Tuatara are estimated to number about 50,000, most of them living in predator-free sanctuaries, including offshore islands.
A male Tuatara takes 70 years to fully mature but reaches sexual maturity about age 20.
While there's no scientific data on the life span of the ancient reptiles, 'they go beyond 100 well and truly,' Hazley said. 'They can be around for 150 to 250 years.'
(Excerpt) Read more at metro.co.uk ...
TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Pets/Animals; Science
KEYWORDS: dinodad; dinosaur; godsglyphsgraves; godsgravesglyphs; reptile; tuatara
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-32 next last
Hmmmmmm...
Well, when I become 111 years-old I'm sure that I will be doing the same thing!
To: DogByte6RER
Hugh Hefner’s a papa again?!?
2
posted on
01/26/2009 6:43:36 PM PST
by
MortMan
(Those who stand for nothing fall for anything. - Alexander Hamilton)
The centenarian tuatara, named Henry, was thought to be long out of the mating game, until he was caught canoodling with a female named Mildred last March.
3
posted on
01/26/2009 6:43:40 PM PST
by
DogByte6RER
("Loose lips sink ships")
To: DogByte6RER
Larry King?
This ought to be in breaking news.
4
posted on
01/26/2009 6:45:29 PM PST
by
End Times Sentinel
(In Memory of my Dear Friend Henry Lee II)
To: DogByte6RER
“111-year-old reptile becomes a dad”
I didn’t even know Senator Byrd had remarried!
5
posted on
01/26/2009 6:46:22 PM PST
by
DemforBush
(Somebody wake me when sanity has returned to the nation.)
To: Owl_Eagle
6
posted on
01/26/2009 6:46:31 PM PST
by
Islander7
(LOST TAGLINE - If found, please return. LARGE Reward.)
To: DogByte6RER
7
posted on
01/26/2009 6:48:50 PM PST
by
fieldmarshaldj
(~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)
To: DogByte6RER
SEVENTY YEARS! To reach maturity??
No wonder the crazy things are endangered.
8
posted on
01/26/2009 6:49:20 PM PST
by
mamelukesabre
(Give me Liberty or give me something to aim at)
To: DogByte6RER
It's male after all?
9
posted on
01/26/2009 6:50:58 PM PST
by
krb
(Obama is a miserable failure.)
Last year I held a tuatara at the San Diego Zoo.
10
posted on
01/26/2009 6:51:05 PM PST
by
DogByte6RER
("Loose lips sink ships")
Close-up of the tuatara at the San Diego Zoo. Way cool.
11
posted on
01/26/2009 6:52:44 PM PST
by
DogByte6RER
("Loose lips sink ships")
To: mamelukesabre
Yeah, but who could be amorous with a cancerous growth in his testicles?
12
posted on
01/26/2009 6:53:45 PM PST
by
aliquando
(A Scout is T, L, H, F, C, K, O, C, T, B, C, and R.)
To: Eaker; TheMom; Allegra; humblegunner; Tijeras_Slim
Congrats Eaker !!
All that viagra paid off !
13
posted on
01/26/2009 6:54:56 PM PST
by
Squantos
(Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
To: SunkenCiv
14
posted on
01/26/2009 6:58:37 PM PST
by
DogByte6RER
("Loose lips sink ships")
To: indylindy
Henry was at least 70 years old when he arrived at the museum, 'a grumpy old man' who attacked other reptiles, including females. He stayed that way until a cancerous tumor was removed from his genitals in 2002, said Hazley.Don't worry, Henry can still become a U.S. Senator from Arizona.
15
posted on
01/26/2009 7:00:37 PM PST
by
rabscuttle385
("If this be treason, then make the most of it!" —Patrick Henry)
To: DogByte6RER
Well, when I become 111 years-old I'm sure that I will be doing the same thing! And you'll be just as much of a grouch if you get the same problem he had!
16
posted on
01/26/2009 7:08:15 PM PST
by
Erasmus
(Yes, English is my first language. I'm hoping to do better on my second.)
To: krb
HEY! Where’s the warning? I was eating. Wasted my Chipotle.
To: DogByte6RER
HEY, DON’T LOOK AT ME! (My Caps Lock key wuz stuck!)
To: DogByte6RER
A true “little dinosaur”.
19
posted on
01/26/2009 7:15:04 PM PST
by
TheBattman
(Pray for our country....)
To: DogByte6RER
What a stud! My hat’s off to him (and the little lady too).
20
posted on
01/26/2009 7:19:31 PM PST
by
Lucius Cornelius Sulla
(All of this has happened before and it will happen again!)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-32 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson