Puzzling case of the Pregnant Stingray

🌊 Puzzling case of the Pregnant Stingray 🐡

In early February, The Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO in North Carolina, found out that their female stingray, Charlotte, is pregnant. The peculiar thing about her case is that stingrays sexually reproduce; however, there is not another male stingray in the tank. According to Forrest Galante, biologist, and wildlife television host, there are three possible causes of the stingray's pregnancy: parthenogenesis, interbreeding, and sperm retention.

There are three possibilities in this case:

① Parthenogenesis

This occurs when a female produces a clone of herself, which happens when a female gamete (egg) develops into an embryo without being fertilized.

② Interbreeding

Charlotte shares her tank with two male bamboo sharks. It is possible for a shark to physically interbreed with a stingray. There was a bite mark on Charlotte, which could possibly be from the shark since they are known to bite their mate when breeding.

③ Sperm Retention

A sperm from a male is reserved in the female body.

Unfortunately, the answer still remains a mystery. So, what is your take on this?

Sources:

 https://youtu.be/8vrbzZNEm1c?si=0ZD2Vs1Yw0Cvw5fk

https://youtu.be/oYlu3YG6mOY?si=iDCzU7qbyitVRuIo

https://www.sciencedirect.com/.../vete.../parthenogenesis....