Italian shark has virgin birth

Partnerless sex that is.

Scientists at the Cala Gonone Aquarium on the Italian island of Sardinia say a female smooth-hound shark that's been living in an all-female shark tank for 10 years recently gave birth to a baby shark. The aquarium's press team told DW that they are currently waiting for a DNA analysis to confirm that what happened is a case of parthenogenesis. To procreate, most species require an egg to be fertilized by a sperm. That's the case with sharks, too. But some animals can produce offspring all by themselves. This is called parthenogenesis. The case in Italy could be the first time this "immaculate conception" has occurred in smooth-hound sharks, at least in captivity.

Italian shark has virgin birth

Instead of mating, a zebra shark used her own genetic material to fertilize two eggs, Shedd Aquarium officials announced this week in a release. According to a study published in the Journal of Fish Biology , the shark, named Bubbles, reproduced some of her young through "virgin births. Bubbles gave birth to the pups in and through years of genetic testing, authorities were able to confirm she did it without a male shark. Aquarium officials released the details this week, in time for the holidays. The aquariums' Wild Reef exhibition includes a giant floor-to-ceiling habitat containing a variety of sharks, including Bubbles. Ironically, Bubbles had two male shark suitors in the tank with her before she became pregnant. But a analysis of the DNA of the shark pups showed they didn't match any of the mature male sharks in the enclosure. Mourning Mauyak: Chicago aquarium's beluga whale 'ambassador' who touched millions dies at Bear killed after attacking zookeeper: Bear fatally shot after escaping Florida zoo exhibit, attacking zookeeper. Watson said the study is just the beginning of researchers understanding the occurrence of the genetic phenomenon in zebra sharks. Bubble's isn't the first shark to give birth through parthenogenesis. Several others have done so including one in an Australian aquarium back in Reach her at nalund usatoday. Home U.

The adult female shark reached sexual maturity at 3, and was only 7 years old when she began laying eggs.

Scientists say a rare shark "virgin birth" may be the first of its kind after a baby shark was born in an all-female tank in an Italian aquarium. Its mother had spent ten years living in a tank with one other female, the outlet said, and scientists suspect the newborn could be the first documented case of shark parthenogenesis in that species. Parthenogenesis is a rare phenomenon where an egg develops into an embryo without being fertilized by a sperm. The process has been observed in more than 80 vertebrate species, according to Live Science , including sharks, fish, and reptiles. He added that while sharks probably had the ability to do it, it was difficult to document in the wild. Chapman told Live Science that in the wild, parthenogenesis might be the last resort for females that cannot find a mate in situations of low population density. The response can also be triggered in captive sharks who are separated from males for long periods of time, he said.

Its mother had spent ten years living in a tank with one other female, the outlet said, and scientists suspect the newborn could be the first documented case of shark parthenogenesis in that species. Parthenogenesis is a rare phenomenon where an egg develops into an embryo without being fertilized by a sperm. The process has been observed in more than 80 vertebrate species, according to Live Science , including sharks, fish, and reptiles. Subscribe to our newsletter. This is an excerpt. Read the original post here.

Italian shark has virgin birth

Scientists at the Cala Gonone Aquarium on the Italian island of Sardinia say a female smooth-hound shark that's been living in an all-female shark tank for 10 years recently gave birth to a baby shark. The aquarium's press team told DW that they are currently waiting for a DNA analysis to confirm that what happened is a case of parthenogenesis. To procreate, most species require an egg to be fertilized by a sperm. That's the case with sharks, too. But some animals can produce offspring all by themselves.

Pink marble background

It has been observed in birds, sharks, lizards and snakes in captivity — and in June, scientists recorded the first ever virgin birth in a crocodile. Two years later, the mother had three pups on her own, while her daughter had one. More about Shark Zoo Birth. Social Links Navigation. Like science, tech, and DIY projects? To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here. Nathan Rousseau Smith fantasticmrnate has the amazing story. Partnerless sex that is. Russia-Ukraine War. You may unsubscribe at any time. Laura is a proud former resident of the New Jersey shore, a competitive swimmer, and a fierce defender of the Oxford comma. Let's explain why. Some species, including the New Mexico whiptail, reproduce exclusively by parthenogenesis, meaning that they have not had males for millions of years. Forgotten your password? Lone orca kills great white shark in less than 2 minutes by ripping out its liver.

A starry smoothound shark Mustelus asterias , a near relative of the smoothhound shark. You will find a new newborn shark to rejoice at an aquarium in Sardinia, an island which is portion of the country of Italy. Whilst it is the 1st instance of solo creation of progeny documented in this precise shark species, a lot of other species have shown this exceptional scientific phenomenon.

Some species, including the New Mexico whiptail, reproduce exclusively by parthenogenesis, meaning that they have not had males for millions of years. That's the case with sharks, too. Marine biologists at the Italian aquarium have sent DNA samples to a laboratory to confirm that Ispera was born through parthenogenesis, the New York Post reported. Copy Link. Usually these polar bodies are simply reabsorbed by the female. It has been observed in birds, sharks, lizards and snakes in captivity — and in June, scientists recorded the first ever virgin birth in a crocodile. A female zebra shark living in an Australian aquarium shocked scientists when it gave birth to offspring without the use of a male. Asexual reproduction —creating offspring that are genetically identical to the parent without mating—is common in many invertebrate organisms, but is less frequently seen in vertebrates like sharks unless there is an absence of partners to reproduce sexually with, as a kind of biological "Hail Mary. Asexual reproduction is a common method of making new individuals across all of life: bacteria, plants, fungi and less complex animals frequently use this method of reproduction. Latest audio Latest videos. Most Popular. Scientists say dehydrating the stratosphere could be plausible option to combat climate change.