HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A stingray that got pregnant at a North Carolina aquarium this winter despite not having shared a tank with a male of her species for many years has died.
The Aquarium and Shark Lab in Hendersonville said on Facebook late Sunday that the stingray, Charlotte, died after getting a rare reproductive disease. It didn’t go into further detail.
“We are sad to announce, after continuing treatment with her medical care team and specialist, our ray Charlotte passed away today,” the aquarium wrote, while also thanking fans for their “love and support.”
The aquarium, which is in the Blue Ridge Mountains, announced in February that Charlotte had gotten pregnant despite not having shared a tank with a male stingray in at least eight years. The pregnancy made headlines around the world and provided fodder for late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel and “Saturday Night Live.”
The aquarium said in late May that Charlotte was suffering from a rare reproductive disease, and that it was trying to find out more about the malady.
“There have been studies done on southern rays, but we have not found any yet done on round rays,” it wrote.
The aquarium announced in early June that Charlotte was no longer pregnant. The development led the facility to temporarily close to the public on June 1. In its post on Sunday, the aquarium said it would remain closed for the time being and that staff would continue to feed and care for the other animals.
The pregnancy was thought to be the result of a type of asexual reproduction called parthenogenesis, in which offspring develop from unfertilized eggs, meaning there is no genetic contribution by a male. The mostly rare phenomenon can occur in some insects, fish, amphibians, birds and reptiles, but not in mammals. Documented examples have included California condors, Komodo dragons and yellow-bellied water snakes.
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A female stingray named Charlotte at the Aquarium and Shark Lab in Hendersonville, North Carolina, passed away after contracting a rare reproductive disease, as announced on Facebook. Despite not being in the presence of a male stingray for about eight years, Charlotte surprisingly became pregnant this winter, gaining international attention and even making headlines on popular television programs like Jimmy Kimmel and “Saturday Night Live.”
The aquarium discovered in late May that Charlotte was afflicted with a rare reproductive ailment, prompting further investigation into the condition. Subsequently, in early June, it was confirmed that Charlotte was no longer pregnant, leading to the temporary closure of the facility on June 1. The aquarium will remain closed for the time being, with staff continuing to care for the other animals on the premises.
The phenomenon of Charlotte’s pregnancy was believed to be an instance of asexual reproduction called parthenogenesis, where offspring develop from unfertilized eggs, eliminating the need for a male genetic contribution. While this process is rare, it has been documented in various species such as insects, fish, amphibians, birds, and reptiles, excluding mammals like stingrays. Examples of parthenogenesis have been observed in creatures like California condors, Komodo dragons, and yellow-bellied water snakes.
