A 90-year-old tortoise has become a father for the first time.
Mr. Pickles has become a father (c) Houston Zoo
The Houston Zoo has announced that the beloved radiated tortoise has welcomed three hatchlings - Dill, Gherkin and Jalapeno - with his partner, 53-year-old Mrs. Pickles.
Mr. and Mrs. Pickles have been a couple for almost 30 years and became companions when she arrived at Houston Zoo in 1996.
Mr. Pickles is the zoo's oldest resident and has lived there for 36 years.
The arrival of the hatchlings is particularly significant as radiated tortoises typically only live only 40 to 50 years and are known to produce few offspring.
In a blog post, the zoo said: "The new hatchlings came as a surprise when a herpetology keeper happened upon Mrs. Pickles as the tortoise was laying her eggs and getting them to the safety of the Reptile and Amphibian House."