‘Male’ Brazilian rainbow boa produces 14 baby snakes in ‘miracle birth’

Ronaldo’s ‘miracle birth’ was a rare example of parthenogenesis, a natural form of asexual reproduction in which embryos develop without fertilisation Photograph: City of Portsmouth College/PA

The appearance of 14 baby snakes in a vivarium occupied by a Brazilian rainbow boa snake called Ronaldo was surprising on two counts.

First, staff at the City of Portsmouth college had thought Ronaldo was a male; second the 1.8-metre (6ft) long reptile had not been in contact with any other snakes for at least nine years.