A Louisiana aquarium welcomed a child shark born underneath mysterious circumstances, the aquarium mentioned Friday.
The swell shark, nicknamed Yoko, hatched on Jan. 3, based on the Shreveport Aquarium. What makes the delivery mysterious is that the tank is residence to 2 feminine sharks who haven’t been involved with a male in over three years.
“This situation is incredible and shows the resilience of this species,” Greg Barrick, the curator of dwell animals at Shreveport Aquarium, mentioned in a information launch.
The egg was first noticed eight months in the past, however it could have gone undetected within the tank for a month or two, based on the aquarium. The aquarium will work to find out if the child shark was born through parthenogenesis, often known as asexual replica, or through delayed fertilization. A DNA evaluation as soon as the pup is large enough for a blood draw will present solutions, however it can probably take months.
“We are very excited in the coming months to confirm whether this was indeed a case of parthenogenesis or if it was delayed fertilization,” Barrick mentioned. “It really proves that life… uh… finds a way,” he added, referencing 1993’s “Jurassic Park,” by which Jeff Goldblum says the identical factor whereas discussing how a gaggle of all feminine dinosaurs might reproduce.
Shreveport Aquarium
Whereas Yoko the shark, presently being monitored off exhibit, is “thriving,” the aquarium warned that sharks born by means of uncommon reproductive occasions can face important challenges.
“Should Yoko’s time with us be brief, it will still leave an unforgettable legacy, contributing invaluable insights to the study of shark reproduction and conservation efforts,” the aquarium mentioned in a information launch.
Swell sharks are native to the coastal waters of the jap Pacific, based on the aquarium. They’re identified for his or her capacity to swell their our bodies with water or air as a approach of deterring predators. Whereas most species of sharks give delivery to dwell younger, some species — just like the swell shark — are oviparous, which suggests they lay eggs.
Parthenogenesis can happen in sharks, lizards and snakes. It could actually additionally occur in some species of birds.
