DNA Proves Second Case Of Virgin Shark Birth
By Matt J. Weiss, October 13, 2008 @ 02:00 AM (EST)
The second virgin birth of a shark has been confirmed, this time in a black tip shark. Like the first case, this shark was also in captivity, a Virginia aquarium, and contained no genetic material from a male.
The first case was a hammerhead shark born in the Omaha, Nebraska, zoo. This proves it was certainly no fluke. The blacktip shark had died after being given a sedative for its annual check up. During the necropsy scientists found a pup in the female. This was quite shocking considering they had never been another male black tip sharks during the mothers 8 year stay at the aquarium. Thus, they were either looking at a never before seen hybrid or a virgin shark birth.
DNA tests proved the latter, when it was found that no male genetic material was found. The scientists cautioned that this is not a response to declining shark populations since only one pup was found in both cases, when mothers can give up to 12 pups a litter making it unlikely it could influence the shark population. That said, it is widely suspected that sharks have fatherless births in the wild.
The first case was a hammerhead shark born in the Omaha, Nebraska, zoo. This proves it was certainly no fluke. The blacktip shark had died after being given a sedative for its annual check up. During the necropsy scientists found a pup in the female. This was quite shocking considering they had never been another male black tip sharks during the mothers 8 year stay at the aquarium. Thus, they were either looking at a never before seen hybrid or a virgin shark birth.
DNA tests proved the latter, when it was found that no male genetic material was found. The scientists cautioned that this is not a response to declining shark populations since only one pup was found in both cases, when mothers can give up to 12 pups a litter making it unlikely it could influence the shark population. That said, it is widely suspected that sharks have fatherless births in the wild.
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