‘Life finds a way:’ Baby shark born in aquarium tank that only houses females
‘Life finds a way:’ Baby shark born in aquarium tank that only houses females
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‘It really proves that life... uh... finds a way’ said the aquarium’s curator of live animals Greg Barrick. Life truly foudn a way inside of an Louisiana aquarium earlier this month when a baby shark was born inside a tank that only is home to only female species.
![[The swell shark pup hatched January 3 and aquarists are overjoyed at the mystery arrival]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/27/16/Shark1.jpg)
Yoko, the new swell shark pup hatched on January 3 after it was first spotted by the aquarium’s husbandry team nearly eight months ago. Shreveport Aquarium believes the egg could have even gone undetected for a further two months prior. Swell sharks are native to the coastal waters of the eastern Pacific and can grow to three feet in size.
Curator of live animals Greg Barrick said: “This situation is incredible and shows the resilience of this species. “We are very excited in the coming months to confirm whether this was indeed a case of parthenogenesis or if it was delayed fertilization.
He positively added, paraphrasing Jeff Goldblum’s iconic line as Dr. Ian Malcolm in the original Jurassic Park: “It really proves that life... uh... finds a way.”. Marine handlers at the aquarium have opted for only one possible explanation for the phenomenon: parthenogenesis.
According to the aquarium, this is a rare form of asexual reproduction or delayed fertilization, where fertilization occurs long after mating. But this is only a provisional theory, says the team. “To confirm the exact cause, the husbandry team will take steps to karyotype the pup once it is a suitable size for a blood draw, likely after a few months.
