Stingray With No Mate Has 'Mystery Pregnancy' With a Shark

The latest science mystery reports raised questions about how a stingray became pregnant despite there being no male ray present, according to the Aquarium and Shark Lab Team by Ecco. It is also likely that the shark impregnated the stingray.

The recent reports said that there were no male stingrays inside the tank when they found that Charlotte the stingray was pregnant. From the animal's appearance, stingrays have similarities with sharks, including the sensing organs in attacking potential prey.

In terms of size, female stingrays are considered larger than their male counterparts. Globally, there are an estimated 220 stingray species, and the said species have managed to live during the time of dinosaurs.

How Did The Stingray Become Pregnant?

According to the news report, the staff looked for a possible explanation for how Charlotte became suddenly pregnant. The process of parthenogenesis could help explain why the stingray's eggs can likely develop even without the usual fertilization.

Understanding the mystery of pregnancy will help offer new insights for experts and staff. Recently, it was thought that the swelling was likely cancer. In plants, parthenogenesis is common when an embryo develops without the process of fertilization of egg cells.

While parthenogenesis is possible, Charlotte was likely impregnated by a young shark that was placed in the tank in mid-July 2023. News reports showed that a spot of bamboo male sharks was added.

Furthermore, the female stingray showed signs of bite marks that potentially indicated a mating process. Inside Charlotte, there is reported about four pups.

The resulting pups can be a clone of Charlotte or mixed breeds. For more updates, people can check the Team ECCO Facebook page. Many netizens were shocked about Charlotte news of pregnancy. Some of the comments guessed for the possible reason of the stingray's pregnancy.

In terms of the stingray mating process, the male stingray will bite the female partner, particularly the pectoral disk. It helps to acquire possible mates. When the young is born, most likely it will not stay with its mother.

More Facts About Sting Rays

Stingrays are important to oceans and wildlife. However, the species have suffered from different threats, including the following:

• Habitat loss
• Climate change
• Overfishing
• Pollution
• Harvested for traditional medicines

In addition, the giant stingray is considered a big freshwater fish. They can evade potential predators and hunt for prey under the ocean. The animal's electrical sensor assists in targeting any prey.

Meanwhile, the female stingray can live up to 25 years, longer than male stingrays.

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