An epualette shark pup that hatched on Aug. 23 at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago.Photo:Jim Schulz/CZS-Brookfield Zoo
Jim Schulz/CZS-Brookfield Zoo
History has been made at a Chicago zoo after a resident shark reproduced despite being housed in a habitat on her own.
The mom, a female epaulette shark, has lived at theBrookfield Zoo, located outside Chicago, since 2019. In August, one of her eggs hatched into a pup — making history as the second recorded instance of the species reproducing asexually in the U.S., according to a Novemberpress releasefrom the zoo sharing the shocking news.
Since 2022, the shark has laid eggs monthly that were thought to be infertile, according to the zoo. However, on Aug. 23, one of the eggs hatched following a five-month incubation period, having been produced through a process called parthenogenesis, which is when an embryo develops from an unfertilized egg cell.
Its mother has not been housed with a male of her species since arriving at the zoo four years ago and has only recently reached sexual maturity, per the release.
The epaulette shark is “mostly nocturnal” and typically found in warm, shallow waters around New Guinea and Australia.
An epaulette shark pup hatched from asexual reproduction at the Brookfield Zoo in August.Jim Schulz/CZS-Brookfield Zoo
The release also shared that the first recorded epaulette shark birth viaparthenogenesisin the U.S. occurred at the New England Aquarium, where the female shark now housed at the Brookfield Zoo was born.
“We are happy to report that our epaulette pup has been eating well on her diet of finely chopped capelin, minced squid tentacles, and other finely chopped seafood. Our colleagues at New England Aquarium have been a great resource as shark pups produced parthenogenetically can be very delicate,” Mike Masellis, one of the zoo’s lead animal care specialists, said in the release. “We are looking forward to guests being able to see the pup.”
An epaulette shark pup was hatched at Brookfield Zoo in August, making history as the second egg to hatch despite no fertilization from a male.Jim Schulz/CZS-Brookfield Zoo
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The University of Maryland, Baltimore County,citescertain species of lizards and crustaceans are more inclined to asexually reproduce through parthenogenesis compared to sharks and other more complex vertebrates.
source: people.com
