Shark egg hatches in tank without males, sparking mystery at Louisiana aquarium
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — There's a paternity mystery to be solved in Louisiana.
Earlier this month, a swell shark egg successfully hatched at the Shreveport Aquarium. The egg was first spotted by the aquarium's team about eight months ago and had been closely monitored.
The big question was where it had come from.
The two female sharks in the tank had not been in contact with a male shark in over three years, the Shreveport Aquarium explained in a press release.
This, the aquarium said, could suggest that either parthenogenesis, a rare form of asexual reproduction, or delayed fertilization had occurred. The husbandry team expects to analyze the pup's DNA once it gets bigger to confirm what happened.
'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.'
The new shark — affectionately nicknamed Yoko, after the Chumash word for shark, Onyoko — is currently thriving. However, the aquarium notes 'young sharks born through such rare reproductive events often face significant challenges.'
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,' the press release read.
Visitors are not able to see Yoko in person, as the young shark is being monitored off-exhibit. The Shreveport Aquarium said it will provide updates on the swell shark online. When the pup is old enough, it is expected to move to a larger tank.
Swell sharks are native to the coastal waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean, according to the aquarium. The species got its name from its ability to 'swell their bodies with water or air to deter predators.'
Last February, a similar situation occurred in Hendersonville, North Carolina, when a stingray at the Aquarium & Shark Lab was found to be pregnant despite living in a tank without a male of her species. The aquarium determined the stingray, Charlotte, had developed a rare reproductive disease that negatively impacted her reproductive system.
In June, the Aquarium & Shark Lab announced Charlotte was no longer pregnant. In July, officials shared Charlotte had died, noting she had been receiving treatment from a medical care team and specialist, Nexstar's WSPA reported.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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