Did you know that a female stingray can become pregnant without the assistance of a male? That was the remarkable case of Charlotte, the late stingray who sadly passed away on June 30th in North Carolina.
Residing in a small aquarium without male stingrays for the past eight years, Charlotte’s unexpected pregnancy was a result of parthenogenesis, a form of asexual reproduction common among invertebrates.
At one point, there was speculation about Charlotte’s tank companions, two male bamboo sharks. Researchers noted bite marks on the stingray, initially attributing them to shark behavior. However, genetic analysis showed they were too genetically distant for mating.
Expected to deliver within the typical three to four-month period, Charlotte exceeded this timeframe, prompting concerns. In May, it was revealed that Charlotte was no longer expecting, later diagnosed with a rare reproductive disease affecting her system.
On May 30th, the Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO shared on Facebook that Charlotte’s condition had worsened, leading to her passing despite ongoing medical efforts. The facility expressed gratitude for support during this loss, temporarily closing to focus on the care of their other aquatic residents.
Charlotte gained attention beyond the aquarium, even appearing humorously on Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” and being mentioned by Jimmy Kimmel on his late-night show.
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