![]() ![]() Researchers said their new study is just the beginning. Through continued genetic testing and observation, researchers at the Shedd and Field Museum are hopeful questions about the biology of zebra sharks will be answered someday. The extremely rare discovery about Bubbles was recently published in a new study. The Shedd Aquarium plays a key role worldwide in the conservation of zebra sharks. "If parthenogenesis is occurring at a very high rate that is not a good thing, because we want a lot of genetic variation of the individuals we put back into the wild," he said. He said virgin birth pups have low rates of survival the two born to Bubbles both died. "Why is it that she did not like them, were they not pretty enough? We don't know."įeldheim said the question must be answered for the survival of zebra sharks. "Now the question becomes why," said Kevin Feldheim, Field Museum lab manager. Researchers said it's even more unusual that Bubbles chose parthenogenesis even though she was exposed to three mature breeding males. While zebra sharks are a species that can reproduce asexually, it is rare. zebra shark aquatic life cute sharks i love sharks kawaii shark. A female that wasn't with males and she is trying to pass on her genes," Watson said. The Zebra Shark (Stegostoma tigrinum) is usually found within a narrow band of shallow coral reef habitat and soft bottom that is heavily fished throughout all of its range except Australia. Get 25 OFF when you buy 4+ stickers FREE US Shipping for Orders Designers Applied Tags. "We always considered parthenogenesis basically like a Hail Mary. Zebra sharks are in the approximate 40 of sharks that are oviparous (meaning they lay eggs). Watercolor set of Cute Baby deer, zebra, shark, rooster, octopus, kangaroo. She is the first known at the Shedd to reproduce by a process called parthenogenesis, meaning "virgin birth," in which Bubbles fertilized an egg with her own genetic material. Search from thousands of royalty-free Zebra Shark stock images and video. The pups were all conceived with the help of male sharks, or so they thought, until genetic testing was done on the offspring of a zebra shark named Bubbles. "We've had one of the most successful breeding programs anywhere around the world with the species." ![]() "They started reproducing in 2004 and have produced over 100 offspring over 15 years," said Lise Watson, assistant director of animal operations and habitat. The endangered animals, which are native to Indonesia, have been a fixture at the Wild Reef exhibit since it opened almost 20 years ago. The Shedd Aquarium's female zebra shark Bubbles recently gave birth to twins through parthenogenesis, somtimes called "virgin birth." She fertilized her own eggs herself.ĬHICAGO (WLS) - At six and a half feet long zebra sharks are one of the largest species at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium. ![]()
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