Independent Lady Snake Impregnates Herself

Photo: Paul Starosta/Corbis

A female snake shacked up in a Missouri nature center is officially living the dream: Though she hasn’t had contact with a male snake in eight years, she’s managed to get herself pregnant. Again.

According to the Washington Post, researchers believe the yellow-bellied water snake is the first of her species to experience “parthenogenesis,” which is basically fancy science speak for immaculate conception. Other species are capable of asexual reproduction — like some insects and birds — but snakes typically aren’t, which makes this one’s pregnancy all the more surprising.

This is actually the second time this lady snake has achieved the impossible and impregnated herself. Now if only she could teach us human women a thing or two, we could truly live in a world without men.