CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It's a story that has captured headlines this week: A pregnant stingray at the Aquarium and Shark Lab in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Now, that might not sound shocking at first, but get this -- the pregnancy happened in a tank with no other stingrays.
People online have been speculating whether Charlotte the stingray could have mated with two young male sharks that were added to the tank back in July.
OUR SOURCES
WHAT WE FOUND
Thomas said when it comes to the rumors of the stingray and shark mating, don't jump to conclusions so fast.
"It is very, very unlikely," she exclaimed. "Stingrays and sharks, while they are related, they're very distantly related. So it's very unlikely that they would mate together."
But she does have other theories as to what might have happened.
Thomas said in certain cases, female stingrays can actually reproduce without the assistance of a male. She said the process is called parthenogenesis.
The Britannica says parthenogenesis is a reproductive strategy that involves the development of a female baby stingray, rarely a male, without fertilization.
"The cells essentially split," she explained. "And it's almost a form of cloning."
Another theory? Thomas said female stingrays can store a male’s sperm for long periods of time.
"So if the female ray was housed with a male ray, at any point within the last months or potentially even years, depending on the species, it is possible that they could have naturally populated, and it's just now activating," she said.
While Thomas doesn’t have all of the answers -- no one will until a DNA test is performed on the pups -- she said she’s glad this case is spotlighting rays and sharks.
"We love talking about sharks and stingrays and we love bringing our guests in to see them learn and learn to love the animals that we also love," Thomas said. "But specifically in regards to their care, it's really fascinating to be able to talk to our guests about sharks and reproduction and the type of care that they're given on a daily basis."
WCNC Charlotte's Verify series is all about trying to make a difference in the Carolinas by making sure the community has the correct information. WCNC Charlotte outlines concisely what we know and what we don't know. Sometimes the answer can be surprising. Watch previous stories where we verify social media claims in the YouTube playlist below and subscribe to get updated when new videos are uploaded.
VERIFY is dedicated to helping the public distinguish between true and false information. The VERIFY team, with help from questions submitted by the audience, tracks the spread of stories or claims that need clarification or correction. Have something you want VERIFIED? Text us at 704-329-3600 or visit VERIFY.