Anteater Baby Mystery: Mother Immaculately Conceives Offspring in Connecticut

It's a miracle--sort of. A female anteater named Armani has apparently given birth without the aid of a male donor--or at least that's how it appears.

The whole story started in August. Armani gave birth to a baby that zoo officials dubbed "Alice." While most were pleased, the father, Alf, wasn't. Male anteaters are notorious for committing infanticide, which meant that Alf had to go. He was removed from the enclosure, which allowed Armani to raise Alice in peace.

Imagine the surprise of zoo officials when Armani suddenly gave birth again in April. This wouldn't be shocking if the anteater gestation period was longer, but it's only six months. It appeared, at first glance, that Armani had given birth without the aid of a male.

"It's a bit of a mystery," said Marcella Leone, founder and director of the conservation center where Armani gave birth, in an interview with Greenwich Time.

Giant anteaters are an unusual-looking species. With their large snout and sharp claws, they tear open anthills before devouring the insects inside with the use of their long, flicking tongues. Currently threatened, zoos are working to help breed a healthy population of these mammals.

Before you immediately think that this particular case was an immaculate conception, though, think again. It's very possible that this was a case of delayed implantation. This phenomenon occurs when a fertilized egg remains dormant in the uterus for a period of time. While it's been observed in marsupials before, though, this would be an extremely rare event for giant anteaters.

"When she gives birth, her entire uterus is going to clear out," said Stacey Belhumeur, species survival plan coordinator for the North American population of giant anteaters, in an interview with Greenwich Time.

Currently, officials are stumped as to how the pregnancy occurred. Yet it does show how animals can beat all odds when it comes to reproduction. The new baby, named Archie, is currently residing in his new home at the LEO Zoological Conservation Center in Connecticut.