Baby Shark Born Without Male in Shreveport Aquarium Tank

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A baby swell shark named Yoko has appeared at Louisiana's Shreveport Aquarium under extraordinary circumstances - there hasn't been a male shark in the tank for over three years

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Greg Barrick comments on the resilience of the species as the tank houses just two female sharks, making this birth particularly notable for shark reproduction research.

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The first possibility is parthenogenesis - a reproductive method where females can create offspring without male involvement, and has been previously observed in zebra sharks and bamboo sharks.

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Kevin Feldheim, who manages the Pritzker Laboratory for Molecular Systematics and Evolution, says parthenogenesis is a last-ditch effort by females to pass on their genes

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The second possibility involves sperm storage - female sharks can store sperm for extended periods, such as female bamboo sharks storing it for 45 months.

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Swell sharks, known for puffing up with water when threatened, live along the eastern Pacific coast, which further complicates Yoko’s lifestyle due to an unusual birth process.

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The aquarium plans to run DNA tests once Yoko reaches sufficient size for a safe blood draw, providing crucial data to form steps towards shark conservation

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This case joins other documented instances of unusual shark births, including a 2022 zebra shark birth at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, confirmed as parthenogenesis.

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