Stingray's Mysterious Pregnancy at North Carolina Aquarium Sparks Scientific Curiosity

A female stingray became pregnant without a male mate, leading scientists to speculate on asexual reproduction or an unprecedented shark mating.

Staff at the Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team Ecco in Hendersonville, North Carolina, were puzzled by a stingray's pregnancy, given the absence of male stingrays in her tank.
Scientists consider parthenogenesis, a form of asexual reproduction, and mating with a male shark as possible explanations for the pregnancy.
The stingray, named Charlotte, was initially suspected to have cancer due to her swelling, but an ultrasound revealed she was carrying eggs.
Two white-spot bamboo male sharks sharing the tank with Charlotte are under scrutiny after bite marks, a common mating sign, were found on her.
Updates on the stingray's condition and the birth of her pups are anticipated, with DNA testing planned to explore the possibility of a mixed breed.