Baby Shark Born in All-Female Aquarium Tank Stuns Scientists

The mysterious birth of a swell shark in a Louisiana aquarium may be due to rare asexual reproduction or delayed fertilization, with testing underway to confirm.

A baby swell shark named Yoko hatched on January 3 in a tank housing only two female sharks at the Shreveport Aquarium in Louisiana.
The two potential explanations for the birth are parthenogenesis, a rare form of asexual reproduction, or delayed fertilization from mating over three years ago.
Parthenogenesis involves an egg being fertilized by a polar body, creating offspring without male involvement, and has been documented in other shark species such as zebra sharks and bamboo sharks.
DNA testing will be conducted once Yoko is large enough to determine the exact cause of the birth, with results expected in the coming months.
Aquarium staff are closely monitoring Yoko's health, as sharks born through unconventional means often face developmental challenges.