Female Shark Has a Baby With No Male In Sight

Last year at this time we reported the virgin birth of zebra sharks at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium. Now comes news that an epaulette shark at Brookfield Zoo – also near Chicago – has performed the same trick.

There was no doubt about this miracle, because the mother shark has lived in a tank since 2019 but has never shared the space with a male. She didn’t need one, not to reproduce anyway.

This female-only reproductive technique known as parthenogenesis is when an embryo develops from an unfertilized egg cell, a process well-documented in some insects and reptiles. It’s rarer in complex vertebrate species like sharks, and it’s not necessarily good news since the offspring are prone to rare recessive genetic disorders. (Last year’s zebra sharks survived only a few months.)

But so far so good with the new arrival. “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,” Brookfield animal-care specialist Mike Masellis said in a statement. “We are looking forward to guests being able to see the pup.”

The pup is now two months old and about six inches long and pretty damn cute. If she lives, she can reach 2½  to 3 feet in length when fully grown, after which she’ll be able to have kids of her own, with or without a mate.

Epaulette sharks (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) live in the shallow, sandy waters off New Guinea and the northern coast of Australia. The nocturnal creatures can “walk” short distances on the seafloor or even dry land using its muscular pectoral fins. The species’ telltale spots or  “epaulettes” behind its head are actually false eyespots that make these guys look bigger than they really are, a nifty adaptive trait.

Photo credit: Jim Schulz / CZS-Brookfield Zoo