Newport Aquarium's 'Sweet Pea' is World's First Shark Ray to Become Pregnant in Captivity [VIDEO]

The pregnancy of a shark ray at the Newport Aquarium in northern Kentucky marks the first time one of the fish has become pregnant while in captivity, aquarium officials said.

The shark ray, named Sweet Pea, is expecting six pups, but aquarium biologists say they are tempering their expectations due to the many unknowns they will face in the first-of-its-kind situation.

"As excited as we are, there's still a lot of work to do. There are many challenges and unknowns to overcome," said biologist Scott Brehob, who takes care of the aquarium's shark rays.

After arriving in adolescence at the Newport Aquarium in 2005, Sweet Pea became the first shark ray to go on display in the Western Hemisphere. Two years later, Sweet Pea was introduced to Scooter, an extremely rare male shark ray. The union of the two resulted in the aquarium's Shark Ray Breeding Program (SRBP), which is considered revolutionary in the world of marine animal husbandry.

"The pregnancy is a testament to the hard work and dedication our husbandry and veterinary teams have given these many years to better understand these remarkable animals," said Mark Dvornak, general curator at Newport Aquarium and SRBP lead biologist. "Newport Aquarium is a leader in the husbandry of shark rays and we are often contacted by aquariums and zoos from around the world, seeking help with their shark rays."

Click here to see an ultrasound of the pregnant shark ray.

Dvornak told the Kentucky Inquirer that after the birth of the pups, some will be kept at the Newport Aquarium and others will likely go to other zoos and aquariums.

Little is known about shark rays, which are prehistoric-looking creatures typically found in tropical waters. Sometimes referred to as a bowmouth guitarfish, a shark ray, as its name suggests, appears to be a cross between a sting ray and a shark. The creatures have flat, rounded heads that resemble a ray and a fin and tail structure that resembles a shark.

Shark rays (Rhina ancylostoma) are often fished and slaughtered for their fins, and their species is considered "vulnerable" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

"Flesh is sold for human consumption in Asia and the fins from large animals fetch exceptionally high prices, creating a significant incentive for bycatch to be retained," the IUCN states in its analysis of the shark ray. "Very little is known about the biology or population status of this species, but it appears not to be common anywhere."

Sweet Pea has been removed from public display and is being kept in a private tank for the rest of her pregnancy.

The Newport Aquarium has a total of four shark rays. Sweet Pea's companions will remain on display.