Bay-bee shark do-do do-do do-do Baby shark… You’re welcome for the earworm. Now, puzzle this out. Two female swell sharks have been in an aquarium together for three years. No male sharks have been anywhere near the little ladies. They lay eggs, but a new swell shark has not been born without fertilization at the Shreveport Aquarium… until now.
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The swell shark gets its name from the way it protects itself. When threatened, it curls into a circle and grabs its tail fin with its mouth. Then, the little shark swallows excessive water to expand to twice its size. They will often wedge themselves into rocky crevices, and their expanded size makes it difficult for predators to pry them out. When they release the water, it makes a sound similar to a dog’s bark!
Members of the Catshark family, these little sharks only grow to about three feet. The species matures between five and 20 years old and has few young, so populations are sparse. Swell shark eggs are rubbery with tendrils that anchor the eggs on rocks. It takes nine to 12 months for the eggs to hatch.
Which brings us back to the mystery shark born at Shreveport Aquarium in Louisiana. In the wild, when females cannot find a male, they rely on the phenomenon of parthenogenesis. Many animals possess the ability for asexual reproduction, which is a way for a parent to “clone” itself. The ability to reproduce this way has been noted in fish, lizards, snakes, and birds, but not mammals.
When a shark is born through parthenogenesis, it has a more difficult time surviving to adulthood. Aquarium staff will monitor it to give it the best possible chance.
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