Louisiana Aquarium paternity mystery: Baby shark egg hatches without males present
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) - There's a mystery looking for science to solve at the Shreveport Aquarium.
A swell shark hatched but had no male present in its habitat. The aquarium's team noticed the egg eight months ago, and it has been closely monitored. On January 3, the egg successfully hatched. The team determined two female sharks were in the tank and had no contact with a male in over three years.
This suggests either parthenogenesis occurred, a rare form of asexual reproduction, or delayed fertilization, which occurs long after mating. The husbandry team will analyze the pup's DNA once it gets bigger to confirm what happened.
The new Shark swell is affectionately nicknamed Yoko, after the Chumash word for shark, Onyoko.
"This situation is incredible and shows the resilience of this species," said Greg Barrick, the Curator of Live Animals at Shreveport Aquarium. "We are very excited in the coming months to confirm whether this was indeed a case of parthenogenesis or if it was delayed fertilization. It really proves that life… uh… finds a way."
While the pup is thriving, the team knows that young sharks born through such rare reproductive events often face significant challenges. Barrick said that should Yoko's time be brief, it will still leave an unforgettable legacy, contributing invaluable insights to the study of shark reproduction and conservation efforts.
Yoko is being closely monitored off-exhibit to ensure its health and well-being. While visitors cannot see the pup in person, the aquarium is excited to share its progress on social media until it is old enough to move to a larger tank.
Swell sharks, native to the coastal waters of the eastern Pacific, are known for their unique ability to swell their bodies with water or air to deter predators. With this new addition, Shreveport Aquarium continues to serve as a hub for education, conservation, and inspiration for underwater discovery.