First for Sea World as female bull ray gives birth despite no males
Parthenogenesis is sometimes seen as a survival strategy by females in the absence of males of the species
UShaka Sea World in Durban is awaiting DNA results after a newborn bull-nose ray pup was found swimming in the open ocean exhibit earlier this month.
This is the first pup born to one of the resident female bull-nose rays at Sea World, and what is fascinating is that all three females have been there for the past 10 years with no male of the species during this time.
‘It would appear the pup was born due to a process called parthenogenesis, which allows for the development of an embryo without the presence of a male sperm,’ said SAAMBR (SA Association for Marine Biological Research) on its Facebook page.
‘This mode of reproduction is known to occur among a number of plant and animal species, including some sharks, but so far we have not been able to find it recorded in bull rays.
‘Our pup is a female, and this is typical of pups born by this process.’
The association said parthenogenesis is sometimes seen as a survival strategy by females in the absence of males of the species.
A tissue sample has been taken for DNA confirmation that the pup is not a hybrid – where the female may have mated with one of the other ray species.
Results of the DNA test are expected within two weeks.
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