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 ...
Wow - Hittin’ it in three centuries!
When will he be moving to the Florida community called “The Villages” ?
Old Guys Rule!
Whoooo - Hooooo!
No self respecting lizard would be seen dead with anything that ugly!
Re Helen Thomas and “No self respecting lizard would be seen dead with anything that ugly.”
Got news for you. She’s been dead for years but due to modern technology and a rope which has her tied to a chair, she still manages to say “What about the Joos?” every once in a while.
They are doing a commercial on radio right now about “reptile dysfunction.” Wonder if they saw this article?
Re Helen Thomas and “No self respecting lizard would be seen dead with anything that ugly.”
Got news for you. She’s been dead for years but due to modern technology and a rope which has her tied to a chair, she still manages to say “What about the Joos?” every once in a while.
Mildred is the good name for the old fella’s love interest.
How do we know it is 111 years old. Does it have a birth certificate from Hawaii?
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Thanks DogByte6RER....after receiving treatment for a cancer which had made him hostile toward prospective mates.Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. |
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At first, I thought this might be about Senator Byrd
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