IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.
Stingray with no male companion becomes mysteriously pregnant
Feb. 12, 202400:49
UP NEXT
See utility company Denver Water's funny Backstreet Boys parody
01:18
May sales and freebies: Wendy’s, Home Depot, more
04:02
TODAY celebrates 100th birthdays: May 1, 2024
01:06
College-bound students reveal their school picks live on TODAY
07:38
LA train collides with USC shuttle bus leaving dozens injured
00:21
NYPD riot officers arrest hundreds after standoff at Columbia
02:45
McDonald’s earnings fall short as diners push back on rising prices
03:45
Prosecutors say Bryan Kohberger’s alibi is not specific enough
04:22
More tornado threats in South, Midwest after wave of 100 twisters
03:19
Biden plans to reclassify marijuana, ease restrictions nationwide
02:12
Florida’s restrictive 6-week abortion ban goes into effect
01:48
Judge threatens Trump with jail after holding him in contempt
04:18
A look at the benefits of rock climbing for people with Parkinson’s
04:44
New MLB uniforms could be on deck after backlash over changes
02:11
$1.3 billion Powerball winner is a Laos immigrant battling cancer
00:29
Is it cheaper to rent a home rather than buy?
02:00
NSA employee sentenced for selling info to undercover agent
00:29
Rude awakening: iPhone users say alarm clock app isn't working
03:26
Cities hit hard by tornadoes begin clean up, brace for more storms
03:03
What to expect from banker Gary Farro’s testimony in Trump trial
02:15
UP NEXT
See utility company Denver Water's funny Backstreet Boys parody
01:18
May sales and freebies: Wendy’s, Home Depot, more
04:02
TODAY celebrates 100th birthdays: May 1, 2024
01:06
College-bound students reveal their school picks live on TODAY
07:38
LA train collides with USC shuttle bus leaving dozens injured
00:21
NYPD riot officers arrest hundreds after standoff at Columbia
02:45
McDonald’s earnings fall short as diners push back on rising prices
03:45
Prosecutors say Bryan Kohberger’s alibi is not specific enough
04:22
More tornado threats in South, Midwest after wave of 100 twisters
03:19
Biden plans to reclassify marijuana, ease restrictions nationwide
02:12
Florida’s restrictive 6-week abortion ban goes into effect
01:48
Judge threatens Trump with jail after holding him in contempt
04:18
A look at the benefits of rock climbing for people with Parkinson’s
04:44
New MLB uniforms could be on deck after backlash over changes
02:11
$1.3 billion Powerball winner is a Laos immigrant battling cancer
00:29
Is it cheaper to rent a home rather than buy?
02:00
NSA employee sentenced for selling info to undercover agent
00:29
Rude awakening: iPhone users say alarm clock app isn't working
03:26
Cities hit hard by tornadoes begin clean up, brace for more storms
03:03
What to expect from banker Gary Farro’s testimony in Trump trial
02:15
NYPD riot officers arrest hundreds after standoff at Columbia
Prosecutors say Bryan Kohberger’s alibi is not specific enough
Judge threatens Trump with jail after holding him in contempt
Florida’s restrictive 6-week abortion ban goes into effect
Biden plans to reclassify marijuana, ease restrictions nationwide
More tornado threats in South, Midwest after wave of 100 twisters
Breast cancer screenings should start at 40, panel recommends
Benny Blanco shares recipe for chicken parm cutlets
Kelly Corrigan talks PBS show about mental health, well-being
Melissa McCarthy responds to Barbra Streisand Ozempic comment
Charlotte Tilbury shares secret to getting a summer glow
Melissa Joan Hart on ‘The Bad Guardian,’ stand-up comedy, more
Vietnam vets reflect on service, reuniting to star in ‘Aviators’ ad
May sales and freebies: Wendy’s, Home Depot, more
Avocado pesto pasta and no-bake brownie bars: Get the recipes!
May 2024 Start TODAY challenge focuses on walking and strength
Shop these unique and personalized gifts for Mother's Day
Fleur-ishing: How this baker started a craze with her cookies
From weddings to vacations, how to save money for summer fun
Gerber announces search for 2024 Chief Growing Officer
Benny Blanco shares recipe for chicken parm cutlets
Kelly Corrigan talks PBS show about mental health, well-being
Melissa McCarthy responds to Barbra Streisand Ozempic comment
Benny Blanco on passion for cooking, Selena Gomez, new music
Lenny Kravitz responds after fans react to his leather workout gear
How do I tell friends their dogs and lack of hygiene gross me out?
Busy Phillips on ADHD diagnosis, late-night show, more
Sarah Jakes Roberts on how to tap into the power of your potential
Vanessa Williams shares inspiration behind her new song 'Legs'
Casey Wilson talks 'Great American Baking Show,' new audiobook
Shop these unique and personalized gifts for Mother's Day
Grab Shop TODAY's curated box of items perfect for a staycation!
The new Shop TODAY curated box is full of vacation must-haves!
How to know which sunscreen is best for every occasion
Shop these bestselling hair products — up to 25% off!
Jenna's Bookshop: Browse these items inspired by 'The Husbands'
Shop these eco-friendly products to celebrate Earth Day
Shop these 5 bestselling spring fashion staples
Bobbie's Bests: How to find and apply the right foundation for you
Shop these affordable sneakers for spring that go with any outfit
Benny Blanco shares recipe for chicken parm cutlets
Avocado pesto pasta and no-bake brownie bars: Get the recipes!
Al pastor pork tacos: Get the Cinco de Mayo recipe!
Make tasty treats with these easy hacks that are nutritious, too!
Try Deuki Hong's recipe for air-fryer pork belly with meljeot sauce
Double juicing a lemon and other chef-approved hacks to try
Try Matt Abdoo’s barbecue recipe for a pulled brisket burger
Panzanella with burrata and spring veggies: Get the recipe!
Anthony Scotto shares his recipe for his famous Sunday Sauce
Passover treats: Matzo ball soup, pistachio cookies, more
FAQs
So that would leave parthenogenesis as the likely cause of Charlotte's pregnancy. Parthenogenesis is a type of asexual reproduction. It happens when an embryo develops from an unfertilized egg. Charlotte would be the first-known round stingray to reproduce by parthenogenesis.
What is the mystery of the pregnant stingray? ›
This is a zoological phenomenon that occurs when females get pregnant without mating. Instead of the babies being a mixture of mom and dad's genes, their entire genetic makeup comes from the mom. And it has been documented in a number of different animals, including many species of shark and a few species of ray.
Is there a pregnant stingray with no mate? ›
Charlotte the stingray due to give birth within weeks despite no male ray company for years. In short: A round stingray in the US has become pregnant without the involvement of a male companion. It's likely cause by parthenogenesis, which is a type of asexual reproduction.
How did Charlotte the stingray get pregnant? ›
13 article that Charlotte would be the first known round stingray to become pregnant through parthenogenesis.
Can a stingray get pregnant by itself? ›
Stingray's virgin pregnancy may have a delightfully unusual scientific explanation. Scientists think the pregnancy of Charlotte, a stingray living in a tank without any male rays, is an example of parthenogenesis, a miracle of life more common than most people think.
What animal can get pregnant without a male? ›
Parthenogenesis occurs naturally in some plants, algae, invertebrate animal species (including nematodes, some tardigrades, water fleas, some scorpions, aphids, some mites, some bees, some Phasmatodea, and parasitic wasps), and a few vertebrates (such as some fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds).
Can stingrays reproduce asexually? ›
Charlotte is believed to be the first recorded incidence of a stingray to have undergone parthenogenesis. Exactly why parthenogenesis occurs is something of a mystery. Some scientists suggest it is a "last ditch" attempt for females to pass their genetics onto offspring.
What happens if a stingray mates with a shark? ›
If you were hoping for a shark-stingray hybrid in the near future, you're out of luck, since it's impossible for a shark to impregnate a stingray due to their different sizes and DNA, Kady Lyons, a research scientist at the Georgia Aquarium, told the Associated Press.
Did stingray get pregnant by sharks? ›
Let's get this out the way: it's impossible for a shark to impregnate a stingray. But when a lone female stingray named Charlotte unexpectedly became pregnant, her keepers joked that one of her shark tank-mates could be responsible. Then, of course, the headlines followed.
How long is the pregnancy of a stingray? ›
The typical gestation period in a stingray is 3 to 4 months.
Stingrays have been around longer than dinosaurs. The mother gives birth to live young. The difference between male and females is their pelvic fins. Males have two elongated appendages known as claspers whereas females don't have these.
Who impregnated Charlotte? ›
In the months since her livestream announcement, Ramer tells TODAY.com she now believes Charlotte became pregnant through parthenogenesis. Britannica defines parthenogenesis as a "reproductive strategy" in which a female can develop and produce offspring without fertilization.
What happened to stingray while pregnant? ›
According to the Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO in Hendersonville, North Carolina, Charlotte the stingray is continuing with parthenogenesis, or a form of asexual reproduction where she was able to fertilize an egg without a sperm.
How did Charlotte give birth? ›
Charlotte is the first known documented California round stingray to do parthenogenesis in captivity." Experts explain that stingrays have the ability to asexually reproduce, which is also known as a parthenogenetic pregnancy, when there is a lack of reproduction for that species.
Is it possible for a shark to impregnate a stingray? ›
The Case of the Mysterious Stingray Pregnancy. Let's get this out the way: it's impossible for a shark to impregnate a stingray. But when a lone female stingray named Charlotte unexpectedly became pregnant, her keepers joked that one of her shark tank-mates could be responsible.
Can female stingrays store male sperm? ›
Thomas said female stingrays can store a male's sperm for long periods of time. "So if the female ray was housed with a male ray, at any point within the last months or potentially even years, depending on the species, it is possible that they could have naturally populated, and it's just now activating," she said.
How do stingrays have babies? ›
In parthenogenesis, a polar body fuses with the unfertilized egg, triggering it to form an embryo. This is different than cloning, Lyons cautions, which would create an exact copy of the mother ray.