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It will be a while before the final verdict is in, but it appears that Tidbit, a blacktip reef shark, may have gotten pregnant without the aid of a male.
She spent most of her life at the
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center in Norfolk, VA, isolated from males of her species. Sharks are not known to breed outside their species, or to reproduce asexually, and over her almost 10 year stay nothing unexpected happened. She swam, occasionally scuffled with other sharks, and generally did lots of non-pregnant-type shark things.
At the beginning of her yearly physical, she reacted very badly to a mild sedative (analogous to giving a human aspirin) and then was given a stimulant to help her regain consciousness. Despite trying for 12 hours (even after one vet was seriously bitten), they were unable to save her and she died.
During the routine necropsy, Veterinarian Bob George discovered an almost perfectly formed shark pup. Samples have been sent to labs for testing to determine if the pup is a cross-breed or if it was created without the need for a male. Either result would lead to dramatic changes in our understanding of shark reproduction.
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